Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith suffered a fractured right thumb Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks and will undergo surgery to repair the damage.
The Cavaliers confirmed the diagnosis, saying "a treatment and return-to-play timeline will be established following the surgery." Prior to the confirmation, Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported Smith will be out an "extended period" after the procedure.
Smith was forced to leave Cleveland's Dec. 5 game against the Toronto Raptors with a left knee injury, but he avoided a major absence after testing revealed no structural damage. He missed just two games and returned Dec. 10.
A year after he averaged 12.4 points per game and shot 40.0 percent from three during the Cavaliers' championship campaign, Smith is averaging 8.6 points on 33.7 percent shooting from the field and 36.2 percent from beyond the arc as he's struggled to gain a comfortable rhythm.
Despite Smith's troubles in the shooting department, the Cavaliers are a more potent team when he's on the floor. Not only ...
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Article written by Alec Nathan