Cavs' Waiters out at least a week

Published Mar. 19, 2013 5:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Cavaliers’ laundry list of key injuries just keeps growing, and the latest bad news comes on the eve of the NBA champion Miami Heat’s first visit this season to Cleveland.

On Tuesday, the Cavs announced rookie shooting guard Dion Waiters will miss at least a week because of loose cartilage in his left knee. Waiters missed the final three quarters of the Cavs’ blowout loss to Indiana on Monday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Waiters will spend the next week resting and receiving treatment, then will be reevaluated. It’s possible, according to the Cavs, Waiters will undergo an “arthroscopic procedure” -- meaning his knee may be scoped if it’s still bothering him in a week. The potential exists that he’s out for the season.

The injury follows a sprained shoulder to star point guard Kyrie Irving, who has also suffered a broken hand, broken finger, broken jaw and knee soreness just since summer.

Also, starting center Anderson Varejao has been out since early December after knee surgery and resulting blood clots.

Meanwhile, the Heat come to Cleveland as winners of 23 straight -- just 10 shy of the all-time NBA record. They of course are led by Northeast Ohio native and former Cavs star LeBron James. He’s won three league MVPs, as well as last season’s Finals MVP. Still, James and the Heat have never been better than they are right now.

Waiters is averaging 14.7 points and 3.0 assists. Cavs coach Byron Scott said he would like the team to sign another guard to help fill the void created by the loss of Waiters and Irving.

Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO