CLEVELAND (AP) Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson will miss about two more weeks because of a sprained left foot, another blow to the NBA’s worst team.
The team provided the update Friday for the 6-foot-10 veteran, who has been sidelined for the past four games.
The Cavs (9-40) have lost five straight and 17 of 18 entering Friday’s home game against Miami.
Thompson is averaging 11.5 points and a career-high 11.1 rebounds in 35 games. He has been one of the few bright spots for the rebuilding, three-time defending Eastern Conference champions.
The Cavs could soon be getting back All-Star Kevin Love. He has missed most of the season following foot surgery but continues to progress and is doing more on-court rehab.
Cleveland coach Larry Drew was encouraged by what Love was able to do during Friday’s shoot-around, which consisted mostly of taking part in offensive drills.
”What I saw of Kevin this morning, I was almost in awe – how well he moved, how well he passed,” Drew said. ”I’ve been watching in workouts and he’s been shooting the ball extremely well.”
Drew said Love still hasn’t gone through any contact drills and no timetable has been established for when he will return.
”That’s not going to be my call,” Drew said. ”That’s medical (staff). When they feel that he’s completely ready, when he feels like he’s completely ready and when he can step out on the floor, we’re going to embrace him.”
While Drew is impressed by the way Love is moving on the court, he doesn’t want to rush him back.
”I talked to him a couple of days ago and he was talking about how heavy his legs feel,” Drew said. ”At this point, we don’t want any kind of a setback.”
Cleveland plays at Chicago on Sunday and then has three home games in the next 11 days.
Love has played in only four games and had surgery on his left foot on Nov. 2. He signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension last summer.
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