CHICAGO: A source reports that Cavaliers shooting guard Delonte West suffered a non-displaced fractured right wrist when he hit the hardwood at 1:29 of the first quarter in the game tonight against the Chicago Bulls.
West, a left-handed shooter, was back on defense on Bulls guard Derrick Rose when he was sent flying through the air. He used his hand to try to break his fall and cracked his head on the floor. He also suffered a facial laceration above his left eye that required two stitches from the Bulls' medical staff and had to be helped from the floor by Cavaliers trainer Max Benton.
West's loss is a big blow to the Cavaliers. The fifth-year guard, who signed a new contract in the offseason, averages 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
But he might be a bigger loss on the defensive side, where he played with ferocity and often held taller, larger players in check.
West emerged from the locker room after halftime with the wrist wrapped, taking shots with his left hand.
West told TNT's Craig Sager that the injury wasn't that big of a deal in an in-game interview. He apparently was told by Bulls doctors that he could play with a splint and soft cast and planned to play on the team's upcoming West Coast road trip.
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George M. Thomas can be reached at
sportswriterabj@sbcglobal.net. Read the Cavs blog at
http://www.ohio.com/thomas.
