Tristan Thompson a late scratch against the Lakers

Tristan Thompson’s return to form has hit yet another snag, as he will not play against the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night.

Thompson was already going to be on a minute restriction Thursday and Tyronn Lue had indicated he would only play in the first half. However, as he went through warmups, Thompson experienced knee soreness and was pulled from the lineup.

With both the minute restriction, and now this, it’s clear that the team is being very cautious with how they manage his return. While this news isn’t as bad as another injury, it’s still extremely concerning as Thompson is the only proven center on the roster.

Without Thompson, the team will continue to rely heavily on their offense to continue their winning ways. In addition to that, Kevin Love will once again be counted on to shoulder a more physical load on the defensive end throughout the game.