CLEVELAND (AP) -Cavaliers guard Eric Snow will likely miss the remainder of the regular season with a cranky left knee, just the latest medical misfortune in a season of bumps, bruises and bandages in Cleveland.
Snow, who underwent surgery on his left knee just before the season opener, is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks with arthritis-related symptoms in the knee, the team said.
The 34-year-old is averaging just one point in 13.9 minutes per game this season for the injury-ravaged Cavs. But while his playing role has decreased, Snow has been helpful in tutoring some of Cleveland’s younger players.
The Cavs have been undermanned all season. They’re already playing without center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (bulging back disc), guard Daniel Gibson (sprained ankle) and swingman Sasha Pavlovic (sprained foot). In Monday’s win over Portland, center Ben Wallace sat out the second half with back spasms.
Anderson Varejao missed a chunk of games with an ankle injury and superstar LeBron James sat out six games with injuries. Cleveland went 0-6 without him.
Pavlovic returned to practice Sunday and is expected to be activated for the first time since Jan. 23 on Wednesday to play in New Jersey. Pavlovic missed the start of the season in a contract holdout and has appeared in just 38 games.
Ilgauskas’ status isn’t so certain. The 32-year-old, who has missed Cleveland’s past five games, has been one of the Cavs’ most durable players since overcoming several foot injuries at the start of his career. He has played in at least 78 games in each of the past five seasons.
However, his nagging back has made it tough for him to play many minutes in consecutive games. On Monday, Cavs coach Mike Brown said he didn’t know when the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas will play again.
Despite the rash of injuries, the Cavaliers are 10 games over .500 (37-27) for the first time this season.
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