LeBron James to miss two weeks with knee, back injuries
The Cleveland Cavaliers expect LeBron James to be out the next two weeks with left knee and low back strains.
James' injuries were revealed Wednesday after he had a physical exam, radiographs and an MRI. He had missed the previous two games with a sore left knee and has missed three total games this season.
James has previously never missed more than seven games in any season.
"It's been hurting pretty much all year," James told the local media Wednesday. "I've been playing with it. It goes away and comes back."
James, 30, is averaging 25.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists this season. The most consecutive games he has missed in his career are five during the 2007-08 season with a finger injury.
The Cavaliers recently lost center Anderson Varejao for the rest of the season to a torn Achilles' tendon. Forwards Kevin Love (back spasms) and Shawn Marion (ankle) also have recently been sidelined with injuries.
The Cavaliers started guards Kyrie Irving and Matthew Dellavedova, forwards Mike Miller and Tristan Thompson and center Brendan Haywood in a 96-80 home loss to the Bucks on Wednesday.
Cleveland entered the season with championship aspirations with the return of James and the addition of Love, but currently have the Eastern Conference's fifth-best record at 18-14 after losing their past three games. The Cavaliers have been granted a disabled player exception valued at almost $5 million because of Varejao's injury, allowing them to potentially sign another player.
