CLEVELAND -- Isaiah Thomas walked toward his locker before the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, and before he could slip on his jersey ahead of his first game in more than seven months, his teammates caused a commotion to mark the moment.
"I feel like a damn rookie," Thomas muttered under his breath as he sat down in front of his wine and gold No. 3 uniform. He didn't play like a rookie, however.
Thomas checked in to a standing ovation with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter -- his first official action since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals when he played for the Boston Celtics and faced the Cavs as an opponent on May 19 -- and picked up an assist on his first trip down the floor, passing to his old Boston teammate, Jae Crowder.