Remember when the Cleveland Cavaliers won? I mean, they won all the time not so long ago. It was just a year ago that the Cavaliers were on their way to their second 60-win season in a row. Seems like 60 years ago. Tonight, the Cavaliers look to stop a 14-game losing streak when the Milwaukee Bucks come to town.
The Cavs haven't won since defeating the New York Knicks at home back on Dec. 18 and have also dropped six in a row as the host. In Wednesday's 106-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns at The Q, Antawn Jamison posted 23 points and had six boards and Ramon Sessions ended with 19 points and eight assists.
J.J. Hickson and Daniel Gibson both scored 16 points for Cleveland, which is 5-13 at home this season. Hickson also grabbed a game-best 15 rebounds.
"We had the opportunities," Jamison said. "We got some key stops. We just couldn't convert them on the offensive end down the stretch."
Cavs guard Mo Williams is still bothered by a hip problem and is out indefinitely. Center Ryan Hollins (personal) is questionable for tonight and forward Joey Graham (quad) is listed as probable. In his last six games, Hickson is averaging 15.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals. Sessions is averaging 14.9 points on .514 shooting in his previous 11 contests.
Jamison has now scored at least 20 points in six of his last eight games and is averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals over that stretch.
Milwaukee ended a three-game losing streak with a 100-87 triumph over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, as Keyon Dooling scored a season-best 23 points to lead the way.
Corey Maggette had 21 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Earl Boykins contributed 19 points for the Bucks, who got six points and nine rebounds from center Andrew Bogut. The Bucks are 5-0 when Boykins nets 17 or more points this season.
"We're happy with the win, but we still have a lot of things we need to do better," said Bucks head coach Scott Skiles.
Bogut is listed as questionable for Friday's game with an illness. Guard John Salmons is also questionable with a sore right hip. Maggette is averaging a team-best 18.2 points in his last five games.
Cleveland defeated Milwaukee, 83-81, on Nov. 24 this season at Quicken Loans Arena and has won 17 of the past 22 meetings between the teams. The Bucks have lost six straight and 14 of 15 visits to northeast Ohio.