The Charlotte Bobcats will try to avoid finishing with the NBA's worst record for a second consecutive season when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers to wrap up the 2013 campaign Wednesday night. The Bobcats are tied with the Orlando Magic for the league's worst mark. Orlando plays at Miami on Wednesday. Charlotte has won seven of its past nine home games.
The Bobcats have played much better in the second half of the season and they have a chance to end the season on a three-game winning streak, which would match their longest of the campaign. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have stumbled down the stretch, losing five straight and 15 of their last 17. Cleveland has won its last six meetings with the Bobcats, including two straight in Charlotte.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cleveland), SportSouth (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (24-57): Cleveland's poor play down the stretch has sparked speculation that coach Byron Scott won't be back for a fourth season with the Cavaliers. Scott has a year left on his contract and says he plans on being back next season, but he says the rough campaign has taken its toll. "I'm fatigued, mentally, physically, a little bit of everything," Scott told reporters. "But I still wake up every morning ready for work."
ABOUT THE BOBCATS (20-61): Charlotte knows where it stands in relation to the NBA's cellar, and the Bobcats are eager to ensure they don't finish with the league's worst mark again this year. "We want to take care of that," guard Gerald Henderson told reporters. "It's not been one of our goals to start the season, obviously, but it's become a smaller goal for us as we've come down the stretch."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Henderson has scored in double figures in 23 straight games, the longest streak of his career. He has averaged 24.3 points over his past 20 contests.
2. In the last meeting, Cleveland set season highs for points (122), margin of victory (27), field goal percentage (56.5) and assists (33) in a 122-95 victory in Cleveland.
3. Cavaliers PF Tristan Thompson has recorded three straight double-doubles and five in his last seven games.