Cavs (9-31) at Trail Blazers (20-18)

By foxsports
Published

OPENING TIP

This is the fourth of the Cavs’ five-game trip through the Western Conference. They’re 0-3 so far and getting destroyed near the rim. On the bright side, they’re forcing 19 turnovers a game. Meanwhile, the Blazers are another fairly young team that has mostly come together behind power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, small forward Nicolas Batum and rookie point guard Damian Lillard. They beat the Cavs by a point (118-117) in double overtime at The Q on Jan. 11.

Venue: Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.

TV/Radio: 9:30 p.m. EST, FOX Sports Ohio/WTAM

All-Time Series: Trail Blazers lead, 62-48.

PROJECTED STARTERS

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (9-31)
C Tyler Zeller
PF Tristan Thompson
SF Alonzo Gee
SG CJ Miles
PG Kyrie Irving

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (20-18)
C J.J. Hickson
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
SF Nicolas Batum
SG Wesley Matthews
PG Damian Lillard

Pregame notes:

• Portland has the least-productive bench in the league. The Blazers’ top-scoring reserve is rookie center Meyers Leonard, at a measly 4.7 ppg. Worse for the Blazers, Leonard (ankle) is out.

• Hickson is averaging 12.2 points and 11.0 rebounds. He’s compiled 21 double-doubles and is fifth in the league in rebounding.

• This is the Blazers’ first of four straight home games against Eastern Conference opponents (Milwaukee, Washington, Indiana are the others, respectively).

• The Blazers’ last win took place Thursday: 92-90 over defending champion Miami. They’ve lost three straight since.

• Other Blazers numbers: They’re 13-2 when shooting better than 45 percent, and 8-3 in games decided by five points or less.