Cavaliers' Varejao out with broken wrist

Feb 11, 2012, 23:27 GMT

Los Angeles - Brazilian center Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers has a fractured wrist and is out indefinitely, the team announced Saturday.

Varejao left Friday's home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a wrist injury early in the third quarter. He underwent an MRI exam Saturday at the Cleveland Clinic that revealed a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist.

The 6-10 Varejao will have more tests this week, after which a timeline for his return should be established.

A member of the Brazilian national team, Varejao is averaging career highs of 10.8 points and 11.5 rebounds in 25 games this season. He is regarded as one of the best frontcourt defenders in the NBA.

Varejao's absence hurts the Cavaliers, who already are without leading scorer Kyrie Irving, their rookie point guard who has a concussion. Cleveland is 10-15 and one and a half games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Last season, Varejao missed the final 51 games after suffering a torn tendon in his foot that required surgery.