Denver @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 22, 2017 ) Cleveland 113, Denver 126

After initially finding a rhythm following a roster overhaul, the Cleveland Cavaliers are riding a roller coaster of execution on both ends of the floor. The Cavaliers will try to bounce back from their latest dip in this inconsistent stretch when they host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Cleveland averaged 126 points during a four-game winning streak last month amid a series of trades but it has since gone 2-3 while posting an average of 120.5 points in the wins and 98 in the losses. "Just right now offensively we're just playing in thought too much," Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters after a 108-97 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday. "It's not fair to those guys that, you know, maybe we should slow down offensively. Adding I think is just too much for the guys right now. Just trying to think and play, it's too hard. It's a fine balance." The Nuggets dropped the final two games of a three-game homestand before opening a three-game road trip with a 108-102 win at Memphis on Friday. Will Barton and Gary Harris combined for 50 points as Denver maintained a slim edge on the Los Angeles Clippers for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (34-28): Paul Millsap shined in his second game - and first start - since returning from a 44-game absence, collecting 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals in 27 minutes. However, star big man Nikola Jokic is struggling to find scoring opportunities since Millsap returned and has attempted just 10 shots in the two games, finishing under 10 points Friday night for the first time since Jan. 10. "This was not the prettiest win in the world. I told our guys there are no style points," coach Michael Malone said after Jokic also committed five of the team's 24 turnovers. "We get paid to win games. ... We still found a way to win."

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (36-25): Cleveland seems to often make news off the court and Friday offered up another example, as it was revealed that J.R. Smith was suspended from the game against the 76ers because he threw soup at assistant coach Damon Jones. Smith is expected to return for this one and the squad could soon get power forward Kevin Love back from a broken hand. "If I can get back before eight weeks, great," Love - whose eight-week timetable would make him active toward the end of the month - told the media after taking jumpers at practice Friday. "I'm hoping that is the case."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers SF LeBron James scored at least 30 points in four of his last five games and is shooting 54.6 percent from the floor in that span.

2. Barton is averaging 22.7 points while shooting 61.4 percent over the last three contests.

3. The teams split last season's two-game series and finish this season's when Cleveland visits Denver on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 115, Nuggets 107