Kyrie Irving returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers against the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday night after missing eight games with a strained left shoulder.

There was speculation Irving would miss the rest of the season after injuring the shoulder March 10 against the Toronto Raptors.

"It wasn't so much what I noticed but it was the way he was moving, the way he said he felt," coach Byron Scott said. "He has to trust me. If I don't think he looks right, if I don't think he's moving well, then I'll take him out."

Kevin McHale wanted the Houston Rockets to keep Shaun Livingston, who was among the team’s final cuts after the preseason.

“He’s a great guy,” McHale said. “Knows how to play. He’s past so much of the stuff he had to get past as a young player to be a team player.  He just has a whole vibe about him that’s great.

“I was advocating very hard for his influence.”

Livingston was reportedly cut for salary cap reasons.

“It’s no secret that’s (Rockets general manager) Daryl Morey’s strategy, how he is known,” Livingston said. “He is very complex with the cap and how he does things. It could end up working out for the best for them. I’ve been a victim of circumstances this season. That’s been my theme this season.”

LeBron James and the Miami Heat returned to Cleveland on Wednesday for another matchup against the Cavaliers.

Speculation has increased in recent months that James will strongly consider signing with the Cavaliers in 2014, but sources close to him insist no plan is in place for his next free agency.

The Cavaliers, Lakers and Bulls have been frequently mentioned as teams likely to compete with the Heat to sign James.

"My only focus now is to win another championship, I can't worry about speculation or rumors," James said recently when the subject was raised. "What we're doing on the floor right now is what it's all about. We're playing good ball right now. We're trying to win a championship."

James is likely to use his early termination option in 2014 since he is not currently earning a maximum contract and he would also be able to get up to five guaranteed seasons.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Chris Quinn from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League for the remainder of the season.

In 25 games (23 starts) this season for the 66ers, Quinn has averaged 12.7 points on .475 shooting, 2.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.4 minutes per game.

The 29-year-old from Notre Dame played in the NBA from 2006-11 with Miami, New Jersey and San Antonio. In 234 career NBA games (26 starts), Quinn has averages of 4.6 points and 1.9 assists in 13.8 minutes per game.

C.J. Miles believes he made the right choice in signing a two-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason, enjoying the best three-point shooting year of his career.

Miles hopes the Cavaliers pick up the team option on his deal for next season, as he feels he can play much freer under Byron Scott and the organization.

“If they decide that I’m not part of what they want to do here, I think I’ll be fine come summer time given the way I played this year,” Miles said. “Hopefully I’m still here with these knuckleheads.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned Kevin Jones to the D-League's Canton Charge.

Jones has appeared in nine games for the Charge this season, averaging 22.4 points and 12.1 rebounds in 38.3 minutes per game. 

Shaun Livingston agreed to return to the Washington Wizards as the season began after being released by the Houston Rockets.

Livingston was released in December by the Wizards and was claimed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Probably one of the worst spots I’ve been in my career,” Livingston said of his time with the Wizards. “At the same time, it’s been a godsend here.”

Livingston said the lack of structure within the organization made it a bad fit for him.

“I knew it wasn’t necessarily the best fit for me,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just about the fit. … I’m not a guy who goes out and gets 30 a game. I’m trying to make guys better and it just wasn’t bonding.”

Kyrie Irving will miss three to four weeks with a left shoulder sprain.

Irving has a Left AC (acromioclavicular) sprain. 

Irving suffered the injury on Sunday against the Raptors.

Kyrie Irving suffered a left shoulder contusion in the third quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, and he is expected to miss some action with the injury.

Irving landed hard on his shoulder to sustain the injury.

Irving's status will be re-evaluated on Monday.