Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. has a fractured finger on his left hand that likely will require surgery, and he will miss four to six weeks, sources told ESPN.
Nance, who suffered the injury in the Cavaliers’ 124-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, has been a significant contributor to the team’s solid start (10-14) to the season, excelling on the defensive side.
He is second in the NBA in steals with 1.9 per game. Nance has averaged 9.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in 33.4 minutes a game this season.
He recently missed time with a right wrist sprain.
The loss of Nance further diminishes the Cavaliers’ frontcourt, where former All-Star Kevin Love is still out while recovering from a leg injury. Love isn’t expected to return before the end of an upcoming five-game Western Conference road trip. The Cavaliers have lost three straight and next play in Phoenix on Monday.