By Zac Jackson
FOX Sports Ohio
December 4, 2010
Previewing tonight's Cavaliers-Timberwolves game...
THE DETAILS: Cavaliers (7-11) at Timberwolves (4-15), 8 p.m. ET, Target Center. Minnesota comes in off a Friday night loss in San Antonio, 107-101, and has lost six straight. Fred McLeod and Austin Carr have the call on Fox Sports Ohio.
THE STARTERS: Byron Scott has things to consider to try to provide a spark, but there's no indication he'll change from his starting lineup of Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Joey Graham, J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao. The Cavaliers still lead the league in bench scoring but that means little when the starters combine for just 28 points, as they did in Thursday night's blowout loss to the Heat.
The Timberwolves will likely go with Luke Ridnour, Wesley Johnson, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love and Darko Milicic. Beasley, who's having the best season of his young career after being unloaded by the Heat, led Minnesota last night with 28 points.
THE SCOOP: Scott called LeBron's return game Thursday night "the most important 18th game in NBA history." Considering how that went, tonight becomes the most important 19th game in Cavaliers history. The Cavs must show fight, passion and be much better at the offensive end than they've been of late. The level of competition is much different than it was early in the week, but the Cavs need to be better and sharper offensively and better at the defensive end as well, giving themselves chances to get out and run.
Daniel Gibson and Antawn Jamison have created offense off the bench, but the Cavaliers continue to get little from the forward position and Hickson has been inconsistent. Hickson has been rebounding better, but nobody in the NBA has been rebounding better than Love; he leads the league at 15.1 rebounds per night. Milicic -- yes, Darko -- has joined Beasley in coming alive, averaging 9 points, 6 rebounds and almost 3 blocks per game. The Wolves like to play fast and appear to be on the upswing, but they've struggled to close games.
The Cavaliers acquired Ramon Sessions and Ryan Hollins from Minnesota this summer. Ex-Cavalier Sebastian Telfair is playing 20 minutes per game as the Timberwolves' backup point guard.
THE SERIES: The Cavaliers have won nine straight over the Timberwolves and lead the all-time series 27-13. They last lost in Minnesota in 2005.
WHAT'S AHEAD: The Cavaliers' busy week continues Sunday night in Detroit, then Tuesday night in Philadelphia before a Wednesday night home game against the Bulls.
