Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving Gets Apology From Hotel After Bedbugs Bites

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving received an apology from Hilton Hotels on Tuesday after he said he was bitten by bedbugs during a weekend stay at one of their hotels in downtown Oklahoma City.

Irving, 23, played just nine minutes Sunday in a 115-92 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the team blamed flu-like symptoms, Irving later said he was not feeling well after discovering bedbugs on his pillow and ending up sleeping on a couch instead of a bed at the Skirvin Hilton. Irving complained about not getting much sleep Saturday night and about having a sore back.

Hilton and environmental health inspectors from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department both called it an isolated case and said the room was being re-inspected and cleaned.

“The comfort of our guests is a top priority, and we are very sorry to hear about Mr. Irving’s stay,” Hilton said. “Since bedbugs can be easily transmitted anywhere and are often lodged in luggage or on clothing, our hotel maintains high levels of vigilance and we perform regular inspections.”

Irving claimed he only got three hours of sleep the night before the Thunder game and felt sick the next day.

“Just imagine how freaked out you’d be if you saw friggin’ five big bedbugs just sitting on your pillow,” he stated. “I woke up itching, and I’m just looking around and I’m like, ‘Are you serious right now?’ It was 3 a.m., and I was so tired at that point.”

The Skirvin had not received a bedbug complaint since 2013, and corrective action was immediately taken then.

Adjacent rooms were inspected following Irving’s complaint, and no other signs of bedbugs were noted.

Irving said he felt better Monday, when he scored a team-high 30 points in the Cavaliers’ 96-88 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Caption: CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 10: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena on February 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 120-111.