On Tuesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ official injury report was dire indeed. Four players were listed as out for Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors with lingering injuries. Then, on Tuesday night, it was reported that Kyle Korver would also be unavailable for the game after the tragic passing of his younger brother.
On Wednesday morning, an update to the injury report is giving Cavs fans hope after both Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson were upgraded to questionable.
Cavs status update for tonight: Tristan Thompson (ankle) is questionable; Rodney Hood (back) is questionable; Cedi Osman (hip) is out; Larry Nance Jr. (hamstring) is out. Kyle Korver is not with the team after the death of his younger brother, Kirk.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 21, 2018
If Hood and Thompson were able to play, it would no doubt offer a boost to the shorthanded Cavs. Hood has averaged 15.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game this season, but has missed five of the last six games with a back injury.
Thompson has struggled so far this season and is averaging just 6.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, well below his career averages. Still, he provides depth in the frontcourt and a veteran presence that could help the Cavs finish the regular season out strong. If he manages to take the court on Wednesday night, it will be the first time since March 3.
It will be interesting to see how interim head coach Larry Drew integrates both players into the rotation if they prove ready to go. While it would not be a surprise to see Hood back in the starting lineup, it is possible that Thompson could come off the bench, thanks to the rise of Ante Zizic who has proven to be a valuable asset in Thompson’s absence.
Cleveland has just 12 games left in the regular season. While it is great to see that Hood and Thompson are on the verge of their return to the court, the Cavs will hope to remove a few more names off of their injury report well before the playoffs begin.
