Christmas game unlikely for Thomas
Timetable for Cleveland debut remains uncertain.
It’s looking WASHINGTON, D.C. — like Isaiah Thomas will not play on Christmas Day when the Cavaliers engage in their Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors, though an exact timetable for his Cleveland debut remains uncertain.
Thomas, who is recovering from a torn labrum and other injuries to his right hip suffered last season with the Boston Celtics, is not yet ready to play “at 100 percent,” he told The Plain Dealer.
And that’s a key to this entire equation. Thomas wants to play at full speed and without body soreness that could cause him to miss a game after playing two nights prior.
A source close to him added that in order to play against the Warriors, Thomas would need to appear in games before that, and he’s not ready to do so.
The Cavs play Tuesday in Milwaukee and at home Thursday against the Bulls, and then are off until Christmas.
Yahoo! Sports reported Sunday that Thomas and the Cavs were targeting early January for his return, but there were varying degrees of denials and professed ignorance on the part of the team and Thomas’ camp when asked to confirm the report.
In actuality, the only official target date for Thomas issued by the Cavs was on or around Jan. 1, so, it appears he’s coming in close to that.
Coach Tyronn Lue said he didn’t know as to the accuracy of the report, but, “I hope it’s accurate.
“If they said January, that means he can’t play the Warriors game,” Lue said.
Cavs GM Koby Altman said for The Plain Dealer to ask Yahoo! Sports about its report, and Thomas said he didn’t know where it came from.
A source said there was a chance Thomas could play Dec. 30 in Utah, but a twoday mini-vacation the Cavs have planned in Napa Valley, Calif., between a Dec. 27 game against Sacramento and the game against the Jazz could be a hurdle.
Following the game against the Warriors, the next big game on Cleveland’s schedule is Jan. 4 in Boston against the Celtics. It would be Thomas’ return to Boston, but falls on the second night of back-to-back games for the Cavaliers.
Thomas insists he’s close to playing, and told cleveland.com his sons still believe he’ll play on Christmas. He said his injured hip feels good and he’s working through the soreness associated with working out at NBA speed — something he hasn’t done since May.
“Once I get through this soreness, I’ll be there,” Thomas said.