Cavaliers vs. Bobcats: Game time, TV schedule, and preview

Fun fact: the Charlotte Bobcats (8-23) finally ended their (most recent) awful losing streak at 18 games by beating the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, and on Friday night against the Cavaliers they will have the chance to stop a 10-game skid at home.

Horrifying fact: despite the recent failures of the Bobcats, the Cavaliers (7-26) own a worse record for the 2012-13 NBA season.

It will be a basement battle in the Eastern Conference when the Bobcats and Cavaliers get together Friday night in Charlotte, and there's no way around it. Even so, the backcourt matchups between Kryie Irving, Kemba Walker, Dion Waiters and Gerald Henderson should be interesting to watch for anyone with an eye on the future of either team.

Over at Bobcats blog Rufus on Fire, Ben Swanson is preaching patience to fans looking for a path to success in the rebuilding process:

I know these losing streaks are borderline unbearable, especially after last season, but the Bobcats aren't opting for mediocrity by staying where they are. They're being cautious. It's why they haven't added major over-the-hill veteran salary. Cho and Higgins and the FO are constantly looking at ideas to improve the team, especially young ones. They tried for James Harden. Perhaps now they're trying for DeMarcus Cousins.

Fans have no choice in this matter besides to voice their frustration. Maybe the best choice is to be patient. The losses not only hurt fans now. The organization also feels the brunt of poor performance on the court. They see it in ticket sales, in merchandising, in sponsorship, in embarrassing public perception.

Injuries: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (scratched cornea) is listed as a game-time decision for the contest, while Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao (bruised knee) is listed as out.

Game Time: 7 p.m. ET, Friday, Jan. 4

TV schedule: FOX Sports Ohio