Tristan Thompson went through the MRI protocol last night after the Cavaliers picked up a win against the Magic.
Tristan Thompson had an MRI last night on his injured thumb after the Cavaliers beat the Magic 122-102. He is the the league leader in consecutive games played at 447, a streak that may be coming to an end. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Thompson did not travel with the team to Boston.
Tristan Thompson did not travel to Boston & will have MRI on his thumb after hurting it last night, sources said. X-rays were negative.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) April 5, 2017
According to his Instagram, though, Tristan Thompson is in Boston, and he still could play. The initial X-rays came back negative, according to Windhorst’s reporting. The MRI is a further test to determine whether there is any ligament damage in Thompson’s thumb. Thompson played 28 minutes against the Magic. He scored two points with three rebounds, an assist and a block.
The Cavaliers recalled Larry Sanders from their D-League affiliate Canton Charge. This is precautionary in case Tristan Thompson cannot suit up tonight. In what is arguably the biggest game of the year in the Eastern Conference, the Cavs take on the Celtics tonight with the No. 1 seed possibly at stake.
If Thompson cannot go against the Celtics, expect Larry Sanders to get some minutes off the bench and Channing Frye to start in his place. The Cavaliers could also opt to start Kevin Love at the five, LeBron at the four, and either Richard Jefferson or Kyle Korver at the three. Frye, Jefferson, and Sanders will all get extra minutes if Thompson is absent from the game.
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Thompson’s 447-consecutive games played streak is the longest in the NBA. A.C. Green is the all-time consecutive games played leader at 1,192 games, a streak that ran over fourteen seasons, ending in 1997. Tristan Thompson would have to play every game for the next eight years to get to A.C. Green’s record, one that may never be broken.