(Sports Network) - Following a successful road trip, the Cleveland Cavaliers
will return to Quicken Loans Arena for a five-game homestand, starting with
Wednesday's bout versus the Toronto Raptors.
The Cavs went 2-1 against Orlando, Miami and Chicago, and recently posted a
101-98 victory on Tuesday versus the Bulls. Dion Waiters scored 25 points and
made up for the loss of All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who did not play due to
hyperextended right knee. He is listed as questionable and leads the Cavs with
23.3 ppg.
Shaun Livingston added 15 points for the Cavaliers, who snapped an 11-game
skid against Chicago and won for the third time in four tries.
"It was a good win. Some guys came in and did some good things with Kyrie out
of the game," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "We knew it was going to be
tough."
Scott's club recently went 4-3 on a seven-game homestand from Feb. 2-20 and is
10-16 at the Q this season. Cleveland will also host the Clippers, Knicks,
Jazz and Grizzlies on the stand.
Cavs guard Daniel Gibson has missed eight straight games for personal reasons
and is listed as questionable Wednesday.
Toronto will play five of its next six games on the road and is just 8-19 away
from home this season.
The Raptors had won six of seven games until dropping a 90-84 decision to the
Washington Wizards Monday in the finale of a three-game homestand (1-2). DeMar
DeRozan netted 25 points and Rudy Gay was just 1-of-11 from the floor for
seven points in defeat.
"It was a stinker. They whipped us. They outworked us. We tried to turn it on,
but they got us," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.
Gay is still averaging 20.1 points in 11 games with his new team. He came over
from Memphis in a three-team deal before the trade deadline. Guard Sebastian
Telfair, who was acquired by the Raptors last week from Phoenix, could make
his debut Wednesday, but is questionable because of flu-like symptoms.
Toronto has won a season-high three in a row as the visitor. The last time
Toronto won four in a row on the road was March 22-April 5, 2002.
Defense has been the key for the Raptors this month as they are holding
opponents to 92.6 ppg. They are 7-4 in February.
DeRozan has enjoyed this month as evidenced by his 18.5 ppg.
Toronto and Cleveland have split a pair of meetings this season with each team
winning on the road and will square off again March 10 in Canada. The Raptors
have won four in a row at Cleveland, but are only 6-13 in the past 19 games
there.
The Sports Network