Cavaliers' J.R. Smith: Cleared to practice

Smith (thumb) has been cleared to practice and is considered questionable for Thursday's game against Detroit, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reports.

Analysis:

Smith has gradually been working his way back from a fractured right thumb and had been seen shooting around on the court before recent games. Following a reevaluation Wednesday, the 31-year-old has been cleared to resume team workouts, and his questionable status Thursday would imply that he's without significant limitations. With Kyle Korver in the fold, the Cavaliers have no real incentive to rush Smith's return, and he'll likely be brought along slowly in his first few games back once he's officially cleared to play. Eventually, the expectation is that Smith will reclaim his starting shooting guard spot, though the presence of Korver, who was acquired via trade after Smith's injury, could cut into his playing time.