![Cavs starter will miss multiple games [Image by RMTip21 / Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/3/5/660x290/b_502x220x82/cavs-starter-will-miss-multiple-games-image-by-rmtip21-flickr_1867911.jpg "Cavs starter will miss multiple games [Image by RMTip21 / Flickr]")
The Cleveland Cavaliers just can't seem to catch a break. Kevin Love has been out since the end of January with an injury and the Cavs have had to make due with Cedric Osman and Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup of the frontcourt and Larry Nance Jr. as the sole big man coming off the bench. However, for the next few games, the Cavaliers will have to play small because they just lost a key started. Right after scoring 12 points with seven rebounds against the Denver Nuggets. the Cavs have announced that Tristan Thompson will miss multiple games.
The Cavs latest injury
The Tristan Thompson injury happened during the loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. According to Cleveland Cavaliers reports, Thompson stepped on the heel of a Nuggets player in the first half of the game. Tristan finished the game, and as mentioned, had a nice game overall. However, overnight he suffered increased significant swelling and the Cavs diagnosed him with a right ankle sprain.
NBA.com reports that Tristan Thompson will undergo treatment and then start rehabilitation on the sprained ankle. He will miss multiple games and, when he returns, the Cleveland Cavaliers will establish play timing after evaluation and a recovery process. Thompson will be out until further notice.
What this means for Cleveland
While his natural position is at power forward, Larry Nance Jr. will have to step in to play in the place of Tristan Thompson at center. The second-year player is averaging 8.8 points and 6.7 rebounds on the season, and 10 points with 6.6 rebounds since joining the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cedric Osman will be expected to play a lot more minutes for the Cleveland Cavaliers with Tristan Thompson out.
Osman has been starting in place of Kevin Love but has rotated in and out with Nance. As a matter of fact, Nance is averaging 22 minutes a game since joining the Cavs while Osman has averaged just over 18 in the past five games. Both men will have to play 30 minutes or more unless the Cavs go small, with three guards playing alongside LeBron James and one of the big men.
Also getting more minutes will be Ante Zizic, the only person left remaining from the Kyrie Irving trade. In the 16 games that Zizic was active with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the rookie has started once and only averaged three minutes a game in that time. He has only scored in seven games and has only played seven minutes since the start of February.
