76ers at Cavaliers
THE STORY: Both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers enter Saturday night’s game in Cleveland facing a little adversity. The Sixers have lost consecutive games for the first time all season, while injuries are ripping apart the Cavaliers. Already without their starting backcourt after losing Kyrie Irving and Anthony Parker to injuries, now the Cavaliers could be without Anderson Varejao, who sprained his right wrist during Friday’s loss to the Bucks and left the arena with a splint on his wrist.
TV: 7:30 p.m., Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Fox Sports Ohio
ABOUT THE 76ERS (18-9): It was a long time in the making, but Andre Iguodala is thrilled to get his first All-Star nomination. Iguodala said he was relieved to finally be selected in his eighth season and he felt like he doesn’t have anything else to prove. He’s averaging 13 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists. They’re far from the best numbers of his career, but he was certainly helped by the Sixers’ third-best record in the East.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (10-15): Antawn Jamison and Ramon Sessions are doing their best to fill the voids with so many injuries. The 35-year-old Jamison is averaging 28.7 points and a staggering 39 minutes over the last three games. Sessions has totaled 29 assists and averaged 42 minutes in the last two games while filling in for Irving (concussion). The Cavaliers will have tired legs Saturday after three players played at least 42 minutes in Friday’s overtime loss to the Bucks.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Sessions’ 16 assists Friday were the most by any Cavaliers player this season.
2. Sixers guard Jrue Holliday averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 assists against the Cavaliers last season.
3. The Sixers are trying for their third consecutive win over the Cavaliers. That hasn’t happened since Philadelphia won four-straight in the series six years ago.