OPENING TIP
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown has made one thing pretty clear since the previous preseason game, a 110-105 win over the Magic: He doesn’t want to give up 105 points in a day. So the Cavs are back at it tonight, another practice game in which they will attempt to shore up the defense. As an aside, cuts could be coming tomorrow, so keep a close eye on the how the guys at the end of the bench perform.
Venue: Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio.
TV/Radio: 7 p.m. EST, SportsTime Ohio/WTAM
PROJECTED STARTERS
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (1-2 preseason)
C Bismack Biyombo
PF Cody Zeller
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
SG Gerald Henderson
PG Kemba Walker
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2-0 preseason)
C Anderson Varejao
PF Tristan Thompson
SF Alonzo Gee
SG Dion Waiters
PG Kyrie Irving
Pregame notes:
• Cavs guard Jarrett Jack (knee inflammation) and swingmen Carrick Felix (hernia) and Sergey Karasev (travel) will not play. Centers Andrew Bynum (knees) and Tyler Zeller (appendectomy) are also out.
• The Bobcats’ biggest free-agent acquisition, center Al Jefferson, is also out with a sprained ankle.
• As for other Bobcats’ bigs, Cody Zeller, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft and Tyler Zeller’s brother, has started all three preseason games. He is expected to do so again tonight.
• Gee is making his first start of the preseason at small forward. He missed the first two games with a sore hamstring.
• This is the Cavs’ first of three preseason games in Ohio cities that start with “C” and aren’t Cleveland. They play in Columbus and Cincinnati next week.
• Tonight’s game also marks the first ever Cavs game televised on SportsTime Ohio. For the uninformed, it’s the same channel that carries Cleveland Indians games. It’s the first of three straight games to be broadcast by STO.
• Upcoming preseason games: The Cavs return to the The Q on Thursday to face the Detroit Pistons. They play the Indiana Pacers at The Q on Saturday, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday in Columbus.
Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO
