Cavs place Williams on IL with knee tendinitis

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - Already without starting point guard Jeff McInnis, the Cleveland Cavaliers now have to cope without small forward Eric Williams, who will miss at least five games with a right wrist contusion.

Cleveland (32-42) has lost six of its last seven games and trails Boston by 1 1/2 games for the final playoff spot in the East.

Williams suffered the injury in the first half of Cleveland's 126-109 loss at Dallas on Tuesday. Lee Nailon ended up playing 40 minutes at small forward in Williams' absence and scored 23 points but is not nearly as good defensively.

Williams is averaging 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 71 games this season. He is not eligible to return until Saturday, April 10 when the Cavs host Miami.

Cleveland acquired Williams from Boston last December in a six-player deal.

Last Saturday, the Cavaliers placed McInnis on the injured list with a shoulder injury.

While placing Williams on the IL, Cleveland activated forward Jason Kapono.

The Cavaliers visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and Boston hosts Golden State.

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