Cavaliers target mid-December for Thomas' return

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to bring back Isaiah Thomas, who has been sidelined all season with a hip injury, by mid-December in advance of their big Christmas Day clash with the Golden State Warriors, local media reported on Tuesday.

Thomas, 28, was a key piece of the offseason trade that sent All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics. He averaged a career-high 28.9 points last season before the hip injury forced him to miss the final three games of the Eastern Conference finals.

Even without Thomas, the Cavaliers have won nine games in a row.