GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: INDIANA (10-10) at CLEVELAND (9-12)

NBA: INDIANA (10-10) at CLEVELAND (9-12)

<h3>Cavaliers hope to have James back</h3>

<div class="pre">Indiana (10-10) at Cleveland (9-12) 7:00 pm EST</div>

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Life without their superstar has not beengood for the Cleveland Cavaliers.


The reigning Eastern Conference champions will look to snap asix-game losing streak when they host the Indiana Pacers onTuesday.


LeBron James has missed the last five games for the Cavalierswith a sprained left index finger. But after practicing Monday,James will be a game-time decision for this contest.

With or without James, the Cavs will try to avoid their longestlosing streak since dropping eight in a row from November 19-December 3, 2003.


The Cavaliers have also not lost seven games in a row sincelosing eight straight from November 19-December 3, 2003.

The Cavaliers have averaged just 80.7 points during their skid.They are coming off a 96-93 setback to the Charlotte Bobcats onSaturday.


The Pacers are coming off a 115-109 victory over the OrlandoMagic on Friday. Two days later, the Pacers had to deal with anoff-the-court incident with point guard Jamaal Tinsley.

Tinsley escaped uninjured in a shooting outside a downtownIndianapolis hotel early Sunday. Police said the shooting targetedTinsley and several of his companions following a confrontationas they were leaving the Cloud 9 club


While Tinsley was not harmed, Joey Qatato, who is the Pacers'equipment manager, was struck on both elbows as he sat withTinsley in the player's Rolls Royce. Qatato was taken toMethodist Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Danny Granger leads six Pacers who average in double figures at18.0 points per game. The 24-year-old is coming off a 27-pointperformance against Orlando.


Cleveland has won seven of the last eight meetings, including a111-106 victory on November 25.

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">INDIANA AT CLEVELAND - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


INDIANA CLEVELAND

F Jermaine O'Neal F Drew Gooden
F Danny Granger F Aleksandar Pavlovic
C Jeff Foster C Zydrunas Ilgauskas
G Jamaal Tinsley G Larry Hughes
G Mike Dunleavy G Shannon Brown

OFFICIALS: Tom Washington
Leon Wood
Gary Zielinski</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 6
CLEVELAND 8 8:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 11
CLEVELAND 15 5:59 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 14
CLEVELAND 27 2:54 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 16
CLEVELAND 37 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANA 16 16
CLEVELAND 37 37 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

IND - JERMAINE O'NEAL 7, JAMAAL TINSLEY 2,
MIKE DUNLEAVY 2
CLE - LARRY HUGHES 12, ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 5,
LEBRON JAMES 4</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 26
CLEVELAND 37 8:56 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 35
CLEVELAND 48 5:58 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 39
CLEVELAND 56 2:42 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 49
CLEVELAND 65 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANA 16 33 49
CLEVELAND 37 28 65 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

IND - JERMAINE O'NEAL 16, TROY MURPHY 12, MIKE
DUNLEAVY 12
CLE - LARRY HUGHES 17, ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 12,
LEBRON JAMES 9</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 53
CLEVELAND 67 9:06 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 64
CLEVELAND 76 5:40 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 66
CLEVELAND 91 2:30 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 74
CLEVELAND 97 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANA 16 33 25 74
CLEVELAND 37 28 32 97 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

IND - JERMAINE O'NEAL 18, MIKE DUNLEAVY 18,
TROY MURPHY 12
CLE - LARRY HUGHES 27, LEBRON JAMES 17,
ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS 14</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 85
CLEVELAND 106 8:11 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 92
CLEVELAND 109 5:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: INDIANA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">NBA INDIANA 99
CLEVELAND 116 2:48 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>