Sunday, December 17th, 2016
WHEN: 7:30 PM EST
WHERE: @TheQArena, Cleveland, Ohio
WATCH: @FOXSportsOH
LISTEN: @WMMS 100.7 FM, @wtam1100, La Mega 87.7FM
– Cavaliers (18-6, 1st in Central): The NBA’s defending champions will be coming into tonight’s bout as winners in five of their last six games.
The Cavs decided to rest their “Big Three” on Wednesday night, which resulted in a 93-85 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on the second night of a back-to-back set. Tonight, the Wine and Gold will be looking to get back into the win column with their starters on the floor.
Yesterday, Cavs officials announced that Chris “Birdman” Andersen had suffered a torn ACL during practice. Andersen’s injury required surgery. Subsequently, the 6′-10″ big man has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
According to their official website, the Cavs have won four straight games over the Lakers, both sweeps in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
The Cavs will play four of their next five games at Quicken Loans Arena (12-2 at home).
* Milestone alert *
LeBron James (27,382) needs 28 points to pass Moses Malone (27,409) for the eighth position on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list.
* Cavaliers projected starting lineup (subject to change) *
(PF) Kyrie Irving (6′-3″, 193 lbs)
(SG) J.R. Smith (6′-6″, 225 lbs)
(SF) Iman Shumpert (6′-8″, 250 lbs)
(PF) Kevin Love (6′-10″, 242 lbs)
(C) Tristan Thompson (6′-10″, 238 lbs)
* Cavaliers injury report *
– (C) Chris Andersen (ACL): Out
– Lakers (11-18, 4th in Pacific): Los Angeles will be coming into tonight’s game on the tail end of a back-to-back set.
The Lakers led wire-to-wire in their 100-89 win over the Philadelphia 76’ers last night inside The Wells Fargo Center, led by Julius Randle’s 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 33 minutes of playing time. Last night’s victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Lakers.
Shooting guard Louis Williams leads the Lakers in the scoring department, averaging 19.1 points, 3.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Randle is leading the Lakers on the glass. The former University of Kentucky Wildcat and seventh overall selection (Lakers) in the 2014 NBA Draft is averaging 12.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per contest.
D’Angelo Russell will be dishing the rock for Los Angeles. Cavs fans might remember Russell from his collegiate days at The Ohio State University. The former number two overall pick (Lakers) in the 2015 NBA Draft is averaging 15.0 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game.
* Lakers projected starting lineup (subject to change) *
(PG) D’Angelo Russell (6′-5″, 195 lbs)
(SG) Nick Young (6′-7″, 210 lbs)
(SF) Luol Deng (6′-9″, 220 lbs)
(PF) Julius Randle (6′-9″, 250 lbs)
(C) Timofey Mozgov (7′-1″, 275 lbs)
* Lakers injury report *
– (PG) Jose Calderon (hamstring): Questionable
– (C) Tarik Black (ankle): Questionable
* All stats and information via www.basketball-reference.com, www.rotoworld.com, www.nba.com, www.espn.com, Elias Sports Bureau, and The Associated Press *
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