“Awkward sideline interview” reads almost redundantly, but Tristan Thompson took the clumsy environs into even stranger territory.

As the forward was being interviewed before his Cavaliers took on the Mavericks on Friday, he showed true preseason form, bumbling around and mostly ignoring Fox Sports reporter’s Allie Clifton’s questions — “See ball, get ball,” he said would be his approach for the matchup — before he planted a kiss on the side of her head.

Clifton responded with as much class and as much professionalism as can be hoped for, brushing off the peck and continuing with her report, transitioning seemlessly.

“He just goes off the feel of the game, just like he does with interviews I guess,” quipped Clifton.