Cavaliers guard Meleek Thomas has been ruled out for Thursday's game at Atlanta with a foot injury, after he was listed as day-to-day earlier in the day. Cleveland, 3-1 and winners of three straight, will play the Hawks without the 20-year-old.
What happened
Meleek Thomas will not play Thursday night against the Hawks. The injury report changed his status to out at 7:32 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 29, with a foot injury. Earlier Thursday he was listed as day-to-day with the same issue. Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio reported that Thomas had been ruled out for the game against Atlanta. No further details on the injury have been announced. The injury report lists an expected return date of Saturday, Oct. 31.
What it means for the Cavaliers
Cleveland plays at Atlanta at 8 p.m. ET Thursday on NBA TV. The Cavaliers are 3-1, have won three in a row and sit fifth in the East. Thomas has played two games, averaging 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 19.8 minutes. Cleveland is 2-0 with him and 1-1 without him. In the games he missed, Sam Merrill averaged 24.1 minutes and 7.3 points, Jaylon Tyson 21.4 minutes and 9.0 points, and Mario Hezonja 17.6 minutes and 6.8 points. Tyson is listed as day-to-day himself with a neck issue. Donovan Mitchell led the team at 24.8 points in those games.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Thomas is on track for the Oct. 31 return date listed. The team has not announced anything beyond that date. Also watch Tyson's status. If Tyson cannot play either, Cleveland loses two of the guards and wings who took on minutes in Thomas's absence, and more of the load would fall on Merrill and Hezonja behind Mitchell and James Harden.
Is Meleek Thomas playing against the Hawks on Thursday?
No. Thomas has been ruled out for Thursday's game at Atlanta with a foot injury.
When will Meleek Thomas be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Oct. 31. The team has not announced a firmer timeline.