Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Anthony Bennett will miss the next three weeks because of a patella strain to his left knee, according to The News-Herald's Bob Finnan. The injury news is another hit to the topsy-turvy season for 2013's first overall pick.
Anthony Bennett injury: Cavaliers rookie out 3 weeks with knee strain
The 2013 first overall pick hits another setback in his up-and-down season.
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sport
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The Spurs have ridden a six-game winning streak to the top of the rankings. Another Texas team in the Rockets is not far behind. Bennett struggled entering the season and didn’t go through the rigorous process of rookie pre-draft workouts because of a shoulder injury. When he became the surprise pick of the Cavs, the forward out of UNLV earned spotty minutes and produced with equally spotty production in the first several months of his NBA career.
Bennett averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 41 games before the All-Star break but was only shooting 31.8 percent from the field.
While the criticism ramped up midway through the year, Bennett has taken major strides in his improvement.
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Since the All-Star break, his numbers have jumped to 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds despite his 13.4 minutes per game holding steady. The rookie has shot 46.9 percent in 10 games since the All-Star break and he’s also cut down on foul trouble. In seven games from late January through February, Bennett earned at least 20 minutes of playing time and twice recorded a double-double.
If Bennett is ready to return after the projected three weeks off, he would be available to coach Mike Brown at the beginning of April and for the final two weeks of the 2013-14 season. Cleveland has seven games in the month of April.
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