New Cavalier Andrew Bogut Goes Down Injured as Cleveland Loses to Miami 106-98

The Cleveland Cavaliers are dealing with injuries to Kevin Love and J.R. Smith, but have maintained the top spot in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Smith last played on December 20th and is recovering from surgery on his right thumb, while Love underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on February 14th. While both should be back in time for the playoffs, and probably sooner, the Cavaliers picked up veteran center Andrew Bogut to add some big man defense and rebounding while Love is rehabbing.

Bogut made his Cavaliers debut on March 6th in Cleveland against the Miami Heat. It did not go well. Just 58 seconds after he took the floor, Bogut went down after hitting his left leg on the knee of Miami’s Okaro White. Bogut left the game and x-rays revealed he had suffered a broken tibia and will be out indefinitely. Miami went on to win the game 106-98 behind a 29 point performance by Dion Waiters.

The Heat were off to a horrible start this season, but after back to back victories over the Cavaliers, have won 19 of 23 and are closing in on a playoff berth. Cleveland is on top in the East at 42-20 but has lost four of six. The Boston Celtics have been running in place lately in the race for the top spot in the conference and have been unable to close the gap, but trail by just three games and are 40-24, while the Washington Wizards (37-24) and Toronto Raptors (37-26) have an outside shot at the top seed in the East.