CLEVELAND --- Tyrus Thomas warmed up and addressed reporters briefly Thursday after spending the last two days feeling like, in his words, "death."
Thomas entered the game against Cleveland with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
"I'm here to support the team whatever it is---cheer, play, whatever," Thomas said. "That's what I'm here for."
Asked if that meant he could play if coach Vinny Del Negro called on him, Thomas answered affirmatively.
"If he does, I'll think I'll be able to do that."
Thomas caught a mid-afternoon commercial flight to Cleveland after getting cleared to play by team physician Kathy Weber back in Chicago earlier in the day. Thomas said he isn't 100 percent but "close enough."
Thomas said he had a high fever, chills and nausea which caused vomiting. He also couldn't eat.
Thomas missed Tuesday's home victory over Milwaukee and Wednesday's practice with the illness.
"I want to see how he warms up before the game," Del Negro said. "Hopefully we can get him out there depending on how he feels."
Taj Gibson will start at power forward.
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