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Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson to miss 2-4 weeks with foot sprain

The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced that center Tristan Thompson will miss 2-4 weeks after suffering a left foot sprain against the Milwaukee Bucks.

CLEVELAND -- Tristan Thompson's career year has been put on pause.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cleveland Cavaliers center will miss the next 2-4 weeks after suffering a left foot sprain against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

All things considered, it would seem to be good news that Thompson's absence will be limited to a month -- or less. According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, X-rays on Thompson's foot came back negative after the big man exited the Cavs' 108-92 loss to Milwaukee after logging 18 minutes of action.

Now in his eighth season in Cleveland, Thompson has been enjoying a career season that has even garnered some All-Star buzz. In 27 games, the 6-foot-10 center has averaged career-highs of 12.0 points and 11.6 rebounds while assuming a new leadership role for the Cavs in the second post-LeBron James era.

In Cleveland's win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, the Texas product put together one of the most impressive performances of his career, logging 23 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists in 42 minutes.

In the absence of Thompson, who ranked third on the team with 30.3 minutes per game, Cleveland will likely start Larrry Nance Jr. at center with veteran Channing Frye potentially seeing an increased role. Second-year center Ante Zizic, who has appeared in 18 games this season, has recently been dealing a strained left knee but could also see more minutes should his return precede Thompson's.

Last week, the Cavs acquired center John Henson in a trade with the Bucks, although the 6-foot-11 big man has been sidelined since undergoing wrist surgery in mid-November.

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