The best performances for Cleveland Cavaliers in Week 5

Tristan Thompson is changing the narrative on the Cavaliers

Since his departure from the Cavaliers in 2020, NBA Champion Tristan Thompson has not made many headlines. After some short stints with various teams, Thompson returned to Cleveland as a veteran presence and backup center.

His most recent accolades before his return was guarding Nikola Jokic for the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep in favor of the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. What he showed, though, was that he is an instant energy player. He may be at the worse side of 30, but Thompson has not let that stop him from putting in every ounce of effort every night.

"I always felt like I'd return back here, whether it was as a player or whatever it may be.""

- Tristan Thompson

At media day, Thompson expressed his love for the city that drafted him fourth overall all the way back in 2011. Instantly upon his arrival, Thompson was ready to put in work, and that work shined in the Cavaliers' most recent win against the Raptors.

In four minutes of play, Thompson collected four offensive rebounds, three of which resulted in kickout assists. Those four minutes on the court vaulted the Cavs into a momentous swing that Toronto could not stop for the rest of the night. Thompson might not have been on the court in the final minutes, but his third quarter heroic performance was the turning point in the game that eventually resulted in the win.

Alongside Thompson was another third quarter savior in the form of Max Strus.