A day after Thanksgiving, the Cleveland Cavaliers may have a little more to be thankful for.
At today's shootaround in Charlotte, coach David Blatt said that center TImofey Mozgov may return tonight from a strained deltoid and his status will depend on how he looks at prior to the game. Officially, Mozgov's status is questionable.
Mozgov injured his shoulder exactly a week ago in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was injured at some point in the first half and did not return for the second half. Initially, it was reported that Mozgov would miss anywhere from seven to 14 days, so this about as quick as he could of returned. Tristan Thompson has started in Mozgov's place at center.
If Mozgov can play, he should bolster the Cavs' defense against Al Jefferson and the Hornets. If he plays, it will also be worth watching to see how Mozgov moves and looks. After undergoing knee surgery over the summer, Mozgov hasn't looked quite as sharp as he did last season. Perhaps his week away from the court will have helped the health of his knee.
For the season, Mozgov is averaging 7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 12 games.