NBA: Cavs’ guard Smith out for three months

In this Dec. 14, 2016 file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, center, as Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game, in Memphis, Tenn. Cavaliers starting guard Smith will miss at least three months following surgery on his right thumb, a major injury that will have a ripple effect for the NBA champions. The team said Smith, who sustained a “complex fracture” earlier this week in a game at Milwaukee, will need 12 to 14 weeks of recovery time. The NBA playoffs begin in mid-April. AP FILE PHOTO

LOS ANGELES—Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith will be sidelined 12-14 weeks after surgery to repair his broken thumb, the NBA champions said Friday.

Smith suffered a complex fracture of his right thumb in the Cavaliers’ 114-108 overtime win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, departing the game late in the second period.

The lengthy absence of the 31-year-old will put a burden on Cavaliers superstar LeBron James and his teammates, even though Smith’s averages this season of 8.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per match are far from his 12.4 points per match last season.

Cleveland, who lead the Eastern Conference with 21 victories in 27 games, are already without center Chris Andersen for the remainder of the season after he tore a knee ligament in practice last Friday.