Cavaliers at Heat
THE STORY: It doesn’t carry the same buzz as last season, but LeBron James will face his old team Tuesday when the Miami Heat host the Cleveland Cavaliers. Neither side seems to be as geared up as last season because both sides have moved on. But in an interesting twist, both the Cavaliers’ top draft picks from last season - Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson - are close friends with James and both have referred to him as a “big brother” recently. James struck up relationships with both in high school, long before they were drafted by the Cavaliers. That type of bond doesn’t sit well with some Cavaliers fans, but Thompson and Irving both say they had nothing to do with the incidents surrounding James and the Cavaliers. “I wasn’t around in Cleveland when LeBron played there,” Thompson said. “Most fans understand you can’t fault a kid that wasn’t here at that time.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), SunSports (Miami)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (6-9): Cleveland has lost their last two games by a combined 66 points and have to face the defending Eastern Conference champions, perhaps without Thompson. He missed practice Monday after spraining his ankle late in Saturday’s loss to the Hawks and will be a game-time decision. Daniel Gibson has rejoined the team after missing Saturday’s loss because of a death in the family and the team recalled forward Christian Eyenga from the Development League.
ABOUT THE HEAT (11-5): Miami is 6-1 without Dwyane Wade, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is questionable for Tuesday. But they are 3-4 in their last seven games and rookie point guard Norris Cole has slumped after his fast start coincided with the team’s 8-1 mark to start the year. Cole, eager to face the Cavaliers since he played collegiately at Cleveland State, is mired in a 21-of-62 slump over the last eight games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Cavaliers coach Byron Scott has been critical of Irving’s defense all season, but said the rookie played his best defense of the season during Monday’s practice.
2. The Heat average 105.4 points, which ranks second in the league. Their plus-7.9 point differential ranks third.
3. James is averaging 30.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in games Wade hasn’t played.