Anderson Varejao returns to practice in limited role

INDEPENDENCE: Anderson Varejao returned to practice in a limited role Monday and remains highly questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a bruised right knee. He did not have any contact or participate in any 5 on 5 drills and coach Byron Scott said there is still pain in his knee when he jumps.

“He looked decent today. He was moving OK,” Scott said. “He still says when he plants to jump is when he feels pain, but it’s nowhere near as severe as it was four or five days ago. Obviously he’s making progress.”

Varejao said last week he thought the knee needed another week to heal. Given that timeline, he won’t play against the Kings. But the Cavs have another practice today to gauge how he feels.

Newly acquired point guard Shaun Livingston practiced for the first time today with his new teammates and will be available to play Wednesday.

”I was impressed,” Scott said. “He just knows how to play basketball. He makes great decisions out there.”

Livingston had been inactive since Dec. 23 when the Washington Wizards released him. He said he left Monday “like any first practice, tired, out of shape.”

“Just trying to get my legs under me and get my wind back, get my rhythm going,” he said. “It’s a start.”

Tristan Thompson practiced today for the first time without his protective mask. Thompson has worn it for the last 22 games since breaking his nose Nov. 18 at Philadelphia.