Cavaliers-Bucks pregame dribbles

Tipoff: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Records: Cavaliers 8-7; Pacers 10-8.

TV: FOX Sports Ohio (Cavaliers Live pre-game at 6:30). Radio: WTAM 1100-AM, WMMS 100.7-FM; Cavaliers Radio Network.

Projected Starters

Bucks: C Larry Sanders; PF Jabari Parker; SF Giannis Antetokounmpo; SG O.J. Mayo; PG Brandon Knight.

Cavaliers: C Anderson Varejao; PF Kevin Love; SF LeBron James; SG Mike Miller; PG Kyrie Irving.

Injury Report

Bucks: PF John Henson (foot) out; F Johnny O'Bryant (knee) out; C Zaza Pachulia (personal reasons) probable.

Cavaliers: Varejao (ribs) probable; PG Matthew Dellavedova (knee) out.

Dribbles

1. As I wrote last night, the Bucks are clearly an improved bunch. This truth is not lost on the Cavaliers. "Great young talent," said LeBron James.

2. Kevin Love added: "It's a young team, but they've been able to figure it out. The great part is, they still have a lot to learn. They're gonna continue to get better."

3. So, the Cavs will definitely need to be on their toes. The Bucks aren't as experienced and don't have anyone like LeBron James (or Love or Kyrie Irving), but they play hard and under first-year coach Jason Kidd, and pretty smart.

4. Meanwhile, the Cavs have won three straight and could definitely use this one. Five of their next six are on the road, starting Thursday at the Knicks.

5. The Cavs have limited their previous four opponents to a combined 40 percent shooting from the floor. Opponents are averaging a mere 92 points during that stretch.

6. Parker leads all rookies in scoring at 11.9 points per game. He finished 13-of-14 from the free-throw line in the Bucks' previous game, a loss to the Rockets. It marked the most made free throws by a teenager in a game since the Thunder's Kevin Durant in 2008. Parker has also passed for five assists in each of the past two games.

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