Cavaliers Bulls Basketball

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert, right, reacts to a flagrant foul by Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) during Game 6 Thursday night.

(Joe Lewnard, Daily Herald via AP)

CHICAGO - When the final buzzer sounded, the Cleveland Cavaliers were victorious Thursday night as they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 94-73 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Standing at the end of the bench, embracing and hugging his teammates was guard Kyrie Irving with a large wrap around his left knee. He watched the entire second half from that very spot after he re-aggravated his knee in the second quarter, the same knee that's battling tendinitis.

"I'm OK," Irving said after the game. "It's just kind of six days or seven days, a week of treatment and it all goes down in one play."

He was frustrated, yet proud.

His latest mishap occurred when he stepped on the shoe of center Tristan Thompson, buckling his knee up. He immediately began to hobble in pain and he hobbled his way to the bench. Shortly after, he was escorted to the locker room for further evaluation.

The Cavaliers listed him as probable to return after re-wrapping his bothersome knee. He is also struggling with a right foot strain. Irving reappeared on the bench with every intention of taking the court again.

Sparked by a Nikola Mirotic clothesline of the Cavs' Iman Shumpert, the Cavaliers benefited from the flagrant foul and went on a 17-4 run, heading into intermission with a 14-point lead.

LeBron James wasn't having one of his better games, but he took over the contest at the half in a different way. He approached his young, banged-up point guard and told him it was OK. They had it from here. Get your rest.

"Once he said that, I knew they were going to get it done," Irving said. "Obviously not like that, though."

Backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova stepped up and played with an urgent intensity, scoring a postseason high of 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting in 34 minutes. Thompson dominated in the interior by way of 13 points, a game-high 17 rebounds and two blocks.

The United Center was completely stunned. The fans couldn't believe that their prideful team was getting blown out in a closeout game at home, and the opponent was without its starting point guard.

With each play made by the Cavaliers, Irving stood up, clapped and cheered on his team. He found other ways to contribute.

"That's what makes him special," Thompson said. "He's one heck of a player, teammate and person. That's our brother."

Upon learning that Dellavedova would be joining James and Thompson at the postgame podium, Irving -- with both feet soaking in a bucket of ice water -- shouted "Hell, yeah. He should be up there. He deserves it. I couldn't have been happier for him."

Irving had faith in his team. His teammates had convinced him they would be wrapping this series up in six games. In backing up their word, they gave Irving some much-needed extra recovery time going into the next round.

He saw what the Mirotic play ignited, knowing how well his team performs under adverse situations.

After the game, Shumpert was still miffed by that wrestling tactic. As he was getting dressed, he was telling James "That dude better be cool. I'm from here. I got my family here and everything. He wants to get out safe, don't he?"

It prompted a laugh from his teammates and James responded, "He must not know you're from The Chi." Mirotic was partially responsible for their demise, which allowed Irving to be a second-half spectator.

"Absolutely," Irving said when asked if he would have returned had the game been close. "Without a doubt. It crossed my mind, but we were up by 14."

And they expanded on that lead in the final two quarters.

Irving insists he will be ready for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday. They'll either start with the Atlanta Hawks on the road or the Washington Wizards at The Q. He said what happened to him was a minor setback, nothing more.

He'll be prepared.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "Tonight was an incredible win for our team and now these next days of rest is very vital for me. I'm going to be ready for the Eastern Conference Finals."