Cavaliers at Bucks
Cleveland forward LeBron James has been an NBA superstar for more than a decade and the Milwaukee Bucks have a player who may someday also be known as one. Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to make another statement when the Bucks host the Cavaliers on Tuesday in the first contest of a home-and-home set.
Antetokounmpo, nicknamed "The Greek Freak," is averaging 22.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and six assists and is on a four-game run in which he is averaging 27.5 points and 10.8 rebounds. He enjoyed a huge outing in a 118-101 home victory over the Cavaliers on Nov. 29, when he matched his career high of 34 points and also contributed 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals. Cleveland won six of its past seven games with the lone loss during the stretch coming when James, point guard Kyrie Irving and power forward Kevin Love all remained home and the squad lost in Memphis. Love, who is on a roll with six straight 20-point outings, will miss Tuesday's game due to stiffness and swelling in his left knee and he is questionable for Wednesday's return engagement.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cleveland), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (19-6): Irving was held out of back-to-back games due to tired legs and was fresh in the contest against the Lakers, when he had 21 points, 12 assists and six rebounds. Irving wasn't thrilled to miss multiple games and both he and coach Tyronn Lue were aware there was a major backlash about the absences of the "Big Three" in Memphis. "Our biggest thing is trying to keep Kyrie healthy," Lue told reporters. "There's going to be times where he's going to be mad at me or mad at the training staff -- that's part of it. The biggest thing is we're trying to prepare ourselves for the playoffs."
ABOUT THE BUCKS (13-12): Starting point guard Matthew Dellavedova was a key reserve on Cleveland's NBA championship team last season and he is seeing signs that his new club can make the playoffs. "We've shown we can do it and I think that's the most exciting thing," Dellavedova told reporters. "From where we were at the start of the season I think we've improved a lot and we want to continue that throughout the season." Dellavedova is averaging 8.0 points and 5.7 assists but is shooting just 39.3 percent from the field.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Cavaliers won five of the past seven meetings despite the loss in late November.
2. Cleveland SG J.R. Smith is 10-of-18 from 3-point range over the past three games.
3. Milwaukee PF Jabari Parker is enjoying a strong stretch in which he is averaging 21 points with six 20-point outings in December.