Injuries are rapidly piling up for Cavs

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers are down to two healthy starters.

The team said Friday that center Timofey Mozgov could miss the next two weeks with a strained shoulder and guard Mo Williams is out for the next two games, another blow to a team that’s had more than its share of injuries.

Mozgov, who is still working himself into shape after undergoing offseason knee surgery, left in the first half of Thursday’s 115-100 win over Milwaukee and did not return in the second half. An MRI taken Friday revealed a strained right deltoid, and the team said he will be out at least 10 days.

The 7-foot Mozgov is averaging 7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 20.8 minutes per game for the Cavaliers, who at 9-3 have the Eastern Conference’s best record despite not having All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving or guard Iman Shumpert — both starters — at all this season. Irving was recently cleared to work in 3-on-3 contact drills and is making good progress.

Williams, who is running Cleveland’s offense while Irving continues to recover from surgery to repair a broken kneecap suffered in the NBA Finals, will miss tonight’s game against Atlanta with a sore right ankle. Williams is also listed as doubtful for Monday’s home game against Orlando.

Williams is averaging 15.5 points and he has done a nice job filling in for Irving during his second stint with Cleveland.

The rash of injuries leaves LeBron James and Kevin Love as Cleveland’s only starters not sidelined.

Matthew Dellavedova started for Williams against the Bucks and had a career-high 13 assists in 38 minutes. Dellavedova will likely stay in the starting lineup while Williams recovers. Tristan Thompson could start for Mozgov or coach David Blatt may go with Anderson Varejao, who came off the bench and scored nine points in 11 minutes against Milwaukee.

The Cavs have been stung by injuries since last season. They lost Varejao with an Achilles injury during the regular season and then were slammed hard when Love dislocated his shoulder in the playoffs against Boston and Irving went down in Game 2 of the Finals.

Also, James was slowed by a bad back and sore knee last season, requiring him to miss two weeks. He also received an anti-inflammatory injection in his back during the exhibition season and is hoping to play fewer minutes this season.