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Bucks vs. Cavs: Game time, TV schedule, and preview

Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers (5-18) host the Milwaukee Bucks (11-9) on Friday night. The Bucks defeated the Cavaliers in the first meeting on Nov. 3 thanks to a buzzer-beater three from Brandon Jennings.

Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The Cleveland Cavaliers have dropped 10 of their last 12 games, but that trend should change now that Kyrie Irving is back in the starting lineup. The budding superstar returned on Dec. 11 and led the team to a win over the Lakers, but he will have revenge on his mind when the Milwaukee Bucks come to town on Friday night. Milwaukee handed the Cavs their second loss of the season when Brandon Jennings nailed a last-second shot from beyond the arc to seal the game for the Bucks.

Irving loves playing against the Bucks. He averages more points per game against Milwaukee (28.0 PPG) than any other team in the NBA, and over his career he has converted 59.3 percent of his shots, 66.7 percent of his three-pointers and 92.3 percent of his free throws against the Bucks.

Irving and Anderson Varejao combined to score 47 points on 20-of-31 shooting in that first matchup, but Mike Dunleavy bested them both as he scored a season-high 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting. This time around, Dunleavy is nursing a knee injury and he will not play. Meanwhile, Larry Sanders will return to the lineup for the Bucks while Ekpe Udoh (wrist) will be a game-time decision.

The Cavs are just 3-6 at home this season, while the Bucks are 5-5 on the road with wins over the Nets, Bulls, 76ers, Wizards and Celtics.

Game time: Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. ET

TV schedule: FOX Sports Ohio, NBA League Pass

Location: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.