Heat at Cavaliers
LeBron James hasn’t fared so well against the organization he left after
last season and will try to help the Cleveland Cavaliers gain a season
split of the four-game series against the visiting Miami Heat. James and
the Cavaliers suffered double-digits in both games down in Miami but
did post a convincing 113-93 victory in Cleveland on Feb. 11.
James is averaging 24.7 points against the Heat and is two points away from passing Patrick Ewing (24,815) for 20th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Miami has lost four of its last six games and is seventh place in the Eastern Conference with the charging Brooklyn Nets right behind. The Heat fell 95-81 to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday while Cleveland has been off since edging Philadelphia 87-86 on Sunday, when a reporter irritated James by asking if the Cavaliers are in a minor funk. “A minor funk? We were 19-20 at one point,” James shot back. “Ain’t no funk. What’s our record? That’s not much of a funk. We’re playing good ball.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE HEAT (34-40): Forward Luol Deng (knee) missed the loss to San
Antonio and his availability for the Cavaliers is expected to be firmed
up after the mid-day shootaround. Miami did get center Hassan Whiteside
(hand) back versus the Spurs after a three-game absence and he scored 10
points. “It’s just about what I can tolerate on the court with the
pain,” Whiteside told reporters. “It’s just the performance and how well
I can play.”
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (48-27): Cleveland is in second place in the East, has won five of its last six games, has posted 16 consecutive home victories and third-place Chicago arrives in town for a nationally televised game on Sunday. That cushion gives the Cavaliers ample opportunity to rest power forward Kevin Love, who took an elbow to his achy back against the 76ers and could again sit out. If Love can’t play, forward Tristan Thompson will move into the starting lineup.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Miami has won 12 of the past 13 meetings.
2. Heat F Udonis Haslem (illness) is questionable.
3. Cleveland SG Iman Shumpert (ankle) is questionable after being injured against the 76ers.