Suns at Cavaliers
The Phoenix Suns haven't been able to solve their road woes. Considering that they play their next five games away from home, the Suns hope a trip to Cleveland to face the struggling Cavaliers on Tuesday will help them clear that hurdle. The Suns are 1-5 on the road after having a modest two-game winning streak snapped with a 104-101 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday, Phoenix is in the midst of a six-city, 11-day trip that keeps it away from home until Dec. 5.
The Cavaliers are eager to return home after an 0-3 road trip that wrapped up with an 84-78 loss at Memphis on Monday. Cleveland seized a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter but couldn't hold on. The Cavaliers have lost nine of 10 since a 2-2 start. It's the second meeting this season, as Phoenix rallied from a 26-point deficit for a 107-105 home win Nov. 9. The Suns have won four of the past five meetings.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Ohio
ABOUT THE SUNS (6-8): Phoenix is one of the worst defensive teams in the league, giving up an NBA-worst 103.3 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot 47.6 percent from the field. The Suns do have five players averaging double-digit scoring, led by point guard Goran Dragic (16 points, 7.1 assists), who is the only Suns player to hit double digits in every game. Center Marcin Gortat (11.9 points, 9.1 rebounds) leads the team with five double-doubles.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (3-11): Times were tough enough for Cleveland before leading scorer Kyrie Irving (22.9 points, 5.6 assists) missed the past four games with a hairline fracture in his left index finger. Without Irving, the Cavaliers' top offensive threats are rookie Dion Waiters (14.9 points) and veteran center Anderson Varejao (14.1 points, 14.7 rebounds). The lack of offensive firepower was evident in the fourth quarter of Monday's loss at Memphis, in which Cleveland managed only nine points in the fourth quarter.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Dragic is one of three NBA players averaging at least 16 points, seven assists and two steals. Chris Paul and Brandon Jennings are the others.
2. Varejao has recorded five consecutive double-doubles and has grabbed at least 15 rebounds in each game during that stretch.
3. The game will mark the first meeting between Luke Zeller of the Suns and brother Tyler of the Cavaliers.