Rockets at Cavaliers
THE STORY: The Cleveland Cavaliers may be hesitant to return home after their recent – and stunning – success on the road. Coming off back-to-back victories at Denver and Oklahoma City, the Cavaliers will go for their season-high third consecutive victory Sunday when they host the slumping Houston Rockets. Cleveland is only two games behind the New York Knicks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Houston snapped a five-game losing streak with a 112-106 win at New Jersey on Saturday night.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, FSH, FSOH
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (22-19): With starting point guard Kyle Lowry sidelined after being hospitalized for a fever and abdominal distress, Houston got a huge performance from backup Goran Dragic in avoiding their first six-game losing streak in almost 4 1/2 years. Dragic responded by scoring a season-high 23 points and handing out eight assists. In his three starts this season, Dragic has averaged 17.7 points and 9.0 assists. “We knew we had lost five games in a row, so this game was especially important for us,” Dragic said.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (15-23): Cleveland has lost four straight at home, but it pulled off the shocker of the season by ending Oklahoma City’s 14-game home winning streak on Friday night. Antawn Jamison scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win, part of a six-game stretch in which he is averaging 25.0 points and 7.3 rebounds. Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, the top overall pick in last year’s draft, acquitted himself well in a matchup with All-Star Russell Westbrook, handing out a season-high 12 assists.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Houston has won four of the last five meetings with the Cavaliers.
2. The Cavaliers are 4-8 since center Anderson Varejao suffered a fractured wrist on Feb. 10.