The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to get LeBron James back for an always-daunting visit to the streaking Houston Rockets.
The Cavaliers, though, won't have one of their other All-Stars again since Kyrie Irving will miss his second straight game Sunday.
With its two top scorers sidelined, Cleveland (37-23) took just its third loss in 21 games, 93-86 at Indiana on Friday. The Cavaliers also had a four-game win streak snapped.
James was held out after hurting his back while scoring a season-best 42 points in a 110-99 win over Golden State on Thursday. Irving, meanwhile, remained in Cleveland with a strained left shoulder.
"Hopefully we'll have (Irving) back soon," coach David Blatt said. "We just have to see how he responds to the treatment, but it's not too serious so that's good."
Matthew Dellavedova had 14 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and five assists while starting in place of Irving and is expected to get another one Sunday.
"We missed them," he said. "But it was experience for everyone, and I think we'll be better for it."
With James expected to return, the Cavaliers will attempt to end a seven-game losing streak at Houston and earn only their eighth victory in 52 visits.
The Rockets have taken the past five overall meetings and won 105-93 in Cleveland on Jan. 7. James was in the midst of missing eight straight games because of back and knee problems.
Irving had 38 points and was one of only three Cavaliers in double figures. Dwight Howard had a season-high 19 rebounds - eight in the fourth quarter - for the Rockets but is out indefinitely because of an ailing right knee.
The Rockets are 10-4 without their superstar and will seek to sweep their five-game homestand. They haven't won five straight overall since opening the season 6-0 and another win would pull them within 1 1/2 games of Memphis in the Southwest Division.
The Cavaliers can move back in front of Chicago for the Central Division lead with a win Sunday and a Bulls loss to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier in the day.
Terrence Jones had a season-high 26 points and 12 rebounds in Houston's 102-98 victory over Brooklyn on Friday. James Harden provided 15 points and 12 assists - his second-most this season - despite dealing with a sprained right ankle suffered in a 110-105 win against the Clippers on Wednesday.
Jones has played just 15 games because of a bout of nerve inflammation in his left leg.
"The beauty of this team is that we've been good battling adversity all year," Harden said. "This is another case where we didn't let it get to us, we just stayed relaxed and made the right plays down the stretch."
James is averaging 30.2 points in his last six games against Houston. His teams have gone 7-1 in his last eight matchups with the Rockets.
Kevin Love is averaging 29.5 points in his last four games in Houston and shooting 58.3 percent, including 11 for 22 from 3-point range.
Harden missed 12 of 18 shots in Cleveland in January and finished with 21 points. He had a combined 65 points and made 19 of 32 attempts (59.4 percent) in his prior two matchups.
