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Blazers' Little says he wasn't trying to hurt Kyrie on dive for loose ball

Cameron Browne / National Basketball Association / Getty

Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little says he had no intent to injure Kyrie Irving when he dived for a loose ball near the Brooklyn Nets star's legs during the fourth quarter of Monday's contest.

Irving rolled his ankle during the sequence but remained in the game.

"I would never hurt someone on purpose. I have the utmost respect for Kyrie! But y'all are delusional if you think this is a bad play, and I'd do it again," Little tweeted Tuesday.

Irving felt differently and characterized Little's actions as "unnecessary."

"I could've broke my ankle or done something worse. There's just no place in our game for it," Irving told reporters postgame, according to Fadeaway World. "But obviously, I get the intent from Nassir. It's nothing against him. It just could've been avoided."

Irving expects to be in the lineup Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls. He's officially listed as questionable, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Portland's next meeting with Brooklyn is March 18 at the Barclays Center.

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