Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, February 27, 2017

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson fights to get around Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe in the first half. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

(Joshua Gunter)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Keep in mind that Cavs coach Tyronn Lue is sick right now.

Also remember that center Tristan Thompson has played in 428 consecutive games, spanning five seasons, so he's probably pretty good at masking various aches and pains to stay on the court.

But something's off here. Lue said Thompson's been playing hurt this season. Thompson insists he hasn't. Let's explain.

After the Cavs beat Milwaukee 102-95 on Monday night, Lue was asked about Thompson's pivotal role in an 11-0 spurt in the fourth quarter that gave Cleveland the game.

With the Cavs ahead by six with 3:48 left, Thompson blocked Malcolm Brogdon's layup attempt and corralled the rebound. Kyrie Irving followed with a 3-pointer at the other end. Fifty seconds later, Thompson kept alive a possession by rebounding LeBron James' missed 3. Derrick Williams then made good on a 3-point try.

"Tristan's been great for us defensively really as of late, starting to get healthy," Lue said. "He's been in the right spot when guys are getting beat back door, or getting beat off the dribble, he's doing a great job being in a help position and ready to block those shots. He's gotten better and better at that."

Wait, wait. Did Lue said Thompson was "starting to get healthy?" He's the only Cav to play in all 58 games this season and make all 58 starts.

"Yeah. He's been going through some tendinitis all year, his knee has been bothering him a little bit all year," Lue said. "He's finally starting to come around and he's feeling good."

Thompson, what say you?

"No, no tendinitis, I'm fine," he said. "I'm good. Not sure what coach Lue's talking about. Nothing more than the usual bumps and bruises. I'm good."

Thompson posted eight points, eight rebounds, and one block Monday night. He'd contributed double doubles in four of Cleveland's previous five games. His 9.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game are career highs, and his 3.7 offensive boards per night are the fourth most in the NBA.

And of course his games-played streak is the longest current streak in the league and longest in team history.

None of this is to say Lue was delirious or Thompson is hiding something. Healthy or not, Thompson's done his job well this season.