Cleveland has fallen back to .500 on the season after getting blown out by the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, and are looking to snap a five-game losing streak.
Phoenix is fighting to stay in the Western Conference playoff race, and are coming off an overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Projected Starting Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers (19-19)
G Kyrie Irving – 21.0 ppg, 5.2 apg
G Mike Miller – 3.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg
F LeBron James - 25.2 ppg, 7.6 ppg, 5.3 apg
F Kevin Love – 17.9 ppg, 10.5 rpg
C Timofey Mozgov– 11.5 ppg, 10.0 rpg
Phoenix Suns (22-18)
G Goran Dragic – 16.7 ppg, 3.9 apg
G Eric Bledsoe – 16.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 5.2 rpg
F P.J. Tucker – 8.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg
F Markieff Morris – 15.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg
C Alex Len – 6.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg
What to watch for:
Will LeBron James play?
James has missed the last eight games, and the Cavs have won only one of those games. He expects to play tonight, but that remains a game-time decision. If he doesn't play, the duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love have shown that they can't carry this team by themselves, so Cleveland will probably lose. Even if his minutes are limited, he should be able to do enough to make this game close.
Cleveland's defense vs. Phoenix's offense
The Suns have the fourth best offense in the league (107 points a game) that is driven by their backcourt duo of Dragic and Bledsoe. Cleveland isn't a good team defensively, and don't have any perimeter defenders than can slow either Dragic or Bledsoe down. The Cavs are going to have to rely on playing good team defense, something they've struggled with for most of the season.
Prediction: Cavs win 102-101
LeBron's return will be the difference in this one. Both teams like to play at a high-tempo, which I think will help Cleveland's offense get back on track and pull out a close win.
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