THE STORY: The Charlotte Bobcats are making a strong charge toward the playoffs by winning their last three games and will be looking to stay hot when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. They Bobcats are a game behind the Indiana Pacers - but tied in the loss column - for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The league-worst Cavaliers are coming off the closest they will come to the playoffs, stunning LeBron James and the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth, Fox Sports Ohio
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (31-42): Injuries are striking at the worst possible time for the Bobcats, who practiced Tuesday without top two point guards D.J. Augustin and Shaun Livingston. That means recently signed Garrett Temple could get the start at point guard Wednesday. Augustin is dealing with two leg injuries – a bruised right knee and a sprained left ankle. He believes he can play Wednesday, but coach Paul Silas isn’t sure how effective Augustin can be with two bad legs. Livingston is battling a bruised tailbone. Charlotte has followed a four-game skid with a three-game winning streak that includes victories over Boston and New York, two teams headed for the postseason. Despite the injury woes, the Bobcats received a sliver of good news as center Kwame Brown should return to the lineup after missing Monday’s win over Milwaukee tending to an ill daughter in Georgia.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (15-58): This is the second of a back-to-back for the Cavs, who will have the difficult task of getting up for a team chasing the playoffs while the Cavs are coming off an emotional high. They played perhaps their best game of the season and notched their largest margin of victory with a 102-90 win over James and the Heat. Baron Davis has taken over as the starting point guard, something coach Byron Scott wanted to happen a few games ago. Davis finally feels comfortable enough to start the final 10 games, which was Scott’s goal all along. The Cavs again will be without backup forward Samardo Samuels, who is out at least a week with a sprained wrist and could miss the rest of the season.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Cavs guard Anthony Parker had been shooting 24 percent over his last six games before draining 4 of 4 3-pointers Tuesday. He scored 20 points, surpassing his total from his last five games combined. ... Augustin is shooting just 33 percent over his last six games.
KEY STATISTIC: The Cavs have the league’s worst record but also have victories over the Celtics, Lakers and Heat, three of the best teams in the league.
SEASON SERIES: The Bobcats have won the last four games between the clubs, including a 101-92 home victory Dec. 29 in the only meeting this season as Stephen Jackson scored 38 points and Augustin added 28. The teams meet again in Cleveland on April 5.
KEY INJURIES: CLEVELAND: C Anderson Varejao (ankle); C Semih Erden (groin); F Antawn Jamison (finger); F Samardo Samuels (wrist). CHARLOTTE: G D.J. Augustin (knee, ankle); C DeSagana Diop (Achilles); G Shaun Livingston (tailbone); C Joel Przybilla (knee).
LAST WORD: Jackson went more than a month between technical fouls but got his 15th Saturday against New York. His next technical will result in a one-game suspension.