Larry Nance Jr. out for remainder of Cavaliers season with broken thumb

Larry Nance Jr. exited the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Washington Wizards after suffering a thumb injury, further hurting the Cavs’ playoff chances.

In the fourth quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ game Sunday night, forward Larry Nance Jr. fractured his thumb while fighting for a loose ball, leaving the game with about five minutes to go. After X-rays confirmed the broken thumb, Nance will likely sit out for the rest of the season and leave the Cavs shorthanded (no pun intended).

Nance’s thumb injury is just one of many setbacks that have crippled his performance for the Cavaliers this season. He recently returned from a mystery non-COVID related illness that caused him to lose 20 pounds and ruled him out for seven consecutive games in early April. Nance also missed six weeks in February due to a fractured left hand and a few games in January from a sprained wrist.

Somebody get his man some bubble wrap — he just can’t seem to stop hurting himself. In total, Nance has played in only 35 games this season and averages 9.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. Not bad numbers, but it’s hard to have an impact when you can’t even play.

Larry Nance Jr. will miss the rest of the Cavaliers’ season due to injury

Though the Cavs plan on re-evaluating Nance’s injury on a day-today basis, don’t expect him to come back in game-ready form. Nance joins a beaten-up bench that includes guards Matthew Dellavedova and Lamar Stevens, along with center Isaiah Hartenstein. Oh, and “Young Bull” team scoring leader Collin Sexton is still out due to concussion.

This effectively ends whatever lingering, distant hopes the Cavs’ had of making it into the play-in tournament.

So, who else is left? Kevin Love, JaVale McGee, and the rest of Cleveland’s underperforming team of misfits will face the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Currently sitting in 13th place and six games behind the No. 10 seed, the Cavs will be all in on player development with whoever’s actually available.