The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to snap a two-game skid against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night. Kyrie Irving will be back in action after missing the last three games with a concussion.
More: Cavs vs. Pacers Preview
Cleveland (10-16) is still shorthanded, as Anderson Varejao and Anthony Parker are still out. While Parker might get back into games next week, there is still no timetable for Varejao's return from a wrist fracture.
The Pacers (17-11) are also battling injuries. George Hill and Jeff Foster are out, and Indiana star Danny Granger is a game-time decision with an ankle sprain suffered in the team's loss to the Heat on Tuesday night.
If there's any game to steal a win from the Pacers at home, it's one in which Granger will be hobbled if he plays at all. Irving, who is only averaging 30 minutes per game, will be fresh, and the team will likely push the tempo with an undersized lineup.
It looks like Semih Erden will earn the start in place of Varejao. The Turkish center is going to have his hands full against Roy Hibbert. These kinds of games will be invaluable for the Cavs as they evaluate Erden's value and try to find more minutes for rookie Tristan Thompson.