Cavaliers at 76ers
THE STORY: The Philadelphia 76ers have lost five
of their last seven games and their lead in the Atlantic Division. The
Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been competitive in their last two games and
they’ve dropped four of five since trading backup point guard Ramon
Sessions to the Lakers, but coach Byron Scott refuses to use that as an
excuse. After getting whipped by 25 points at home against the Suns on
Sunday, Scott simply said “we’re not a very good team right now.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cavaliers), CS Philadelphia (76ers)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (17-29): Omri Casspi is averaging 12.5 points
off the bench in his last two games after Scott criticized him last week
for not knowing the playbook. Casspi, acquired in a trade last summer
from the Sacramento Kings, is averaging only 7.1 points and already lost
his starting job weeks ago. This is only the second time he has scored
in double figures in consecutive games this season and the first since
he did it in three straight from Jan. 13-17.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (27-22):
All-Star forward Andre Iguodala is “hopeful” he can play against the
Cavaliers after sitting out Sunday’s game against the Spurs with
tendonitis in his left knee, something he said he has played with for
the last month. It was the first game Iguodala missed this season,
although he sat out 15 last season with an Achilles problem and
tendonitis in his right knee. He is averaging 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds
and 5.6 assists.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Philadelphia guard Evan Turner is averaging only five points and shooting 26 percent in his last four games.
2.
Rookie Tristan Thompson is averaging 14 points and 8.2 rebounds since
moving into the Cavaliers' starting lineup five games ago.
3. The 76ers are trying to win four straight in this series for the first time since the 2004-05 season.