Max Strus finally returned to the court for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, making his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks after missing the first 67 games with a broken left foot.
The 6-foot-5 forward suffered a Jones fracture during offseason training and had surgery on August 26. A Jones fracture is a break in the bone that connects the little toe to the base of the foot.
When he had the surgery, doctors expected him to return to basketball activities within three to four months.
Strus entered the game with 4:53 left in the first quarter and wasted no time getting going. He knocked down two three-pointers from the left wing in his first 75 seconds on the floor and finished the opening quarter with 9 points on 3-for-3 shooting.
Coach Kenny Atkinson said before tip-off that he planned to play Strus between 20 and 24 minutes.
Atkinson spoke about what it meant to see Strus back on the floor.
“I think it’s an emotional day when you witness someone go through what he has during the offseason and then struggling to get back,” Atkinson said. “It’s good timing and will be a boost for the team, not just today but going forward.”
Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 50 games last season, including 37 starts.
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