G Thomas in pregame layup line
Once Isaiah Thomas slippedon his jersey and headband those familiar, warm feelingswashed over him.
His agonizing wait is almost over.
After seven months away, countless days of rehab and wonder if he would play again, Thomas was again on an NBA court Thursday night. And although he only took part in the pregame layup lane, it was more than enough.
“It was everything,” he said. “I felt like a basketball player again.”
Thomas dressed for the first time since coming to Cleveland in a trade and cheered from the bench on as LeBron James scored 34 points to lead the Cavaliers to their 12th consecutive home game, 115-112 over the Chicago Bulls.
Kevin Love added 27 to help the Cavaliers improve to 19-2 since Nov. 11.
But the biggest development for Cleveland was Thomas, who moved even closer to making his debut with the Cavaliers after injuring his right hip in the playoffs in May while with Boston. Earlier in the day, Thomas scrimmaged with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers’ GLeague affiliate, before coming to Quicken Loans Arena. Thomas then put on his uniform, joined his teammates in their pregame prayer and took the floor for a warmup he won’t forget.
“It just felt like I was a rookie again, like my first game,” Thomas said. “I haven’t been in an arena like that where you’re warming up, you’re with teammates, that’s so new right now. I’ve been down since May so just being out there put a smile on my face.”
Thomas won’t play in Cleveland’s next game — a Christmas Day marquee matchup with Golden State — but the Cavaliers s won’t be without the All-Star point guard much longer. Thomas said his workout with Canton went well, and he’ll wait for Cleveland’s medical staff toclear him to play in a game.
Rockets
Rookie Kyle Kuzma set career highs with 38 points and seven 3-pointers, as the Los Angeles Lakers ended Houston’s 14-game winning streak late Wednesday night despite 51 points from James Harden, his second game of at least 50 points this season and the seventh of his career. The Rockets had not lost a game since Nov. 14.
76ers
CenterJoel Embiid missed his third consecutive game Thursday because of back pain. Embiid, who averages a team-best 24.1 points and 11 rebounds, has yet to play since he logged a career-high 49 minutes Friday against OklahomaCity.