Nothing provides a jolt of good news like hearing your best player is returning from injury.

And learning Kyrie Irving is indeed back was exactly what the doctor ordered. Not just for Irving’s healed-enough broken left index finger, but for the Cavaliers as well.

Irving practiced Monday and has received clearance to play. It couldn’t have come at a better time, because the celebrated (although somewhat disjointed) Los Angeles Lakers are in town Tuesday for their lone Cleveland stop of the season.

He went through full-contact drills at the Cavs’ practice facility Monday, including his usual dose of physical one-on-one play against assistant coach Nate Tibbetts.

“It feels great to finally be out there with my teammates,” Irving said. “I missed a lot of games. … Now it’s time to beat on some other teams.”

Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio