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Anderson Varejao injury: Cavs center will miss 2 weekend games

Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao isn't ready to return from a knee injury.

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao will miss the team's weekend games against the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets, according to Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Varejao bruised his right knee against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 18, and he has missed Cleveland's last four games. While the center is missing significant time, Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott said the injury isn't more serious than originally believed and denied a report that Varejao has a torn quadriceps:

"I don't think it's more serious,'' Scott said. "The spot where he got hit is such a tender area that it takes more time to heal than we thought.''

Without their starting center, the Cavaliers (7-23) have gone 2-2 over their last four games. Cleveland is in last place in the Central Division and sits two games above the cellar-dwelling Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference.

Despite the Cavs' struggles this season, Varejao has impressed. The ninth-year player from Santa Teresa, Brazil, is averaging a double-double, compiling 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game. Those numbers roughly double his career averages of 7.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest.

Cleveland hosts the Hawks Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET and travels to meet the Nets Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.