Cleveland @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 31, 2018 ) Miami 89, Cleveland 91

The Cleveland Cavaliers take another swing at breaking their eight-year losing streak in Miami when they visit the Heat on Tuesday. Cleveland has dropped 13 straight games in South Beach dating back to a victory on Jan. 25, 2010, when LeBron James was in the final season of his first tour of duty with Cleveland.

The Cavaliers arrive on a hot streak after winning five straight games, topping 120 points in each of the past four, and intend to finish the regular season strong. "It feels like we're feeling the fact that this thing is winding down," Cavaliers interim coach Larry Drew told reporters. "We know what the race is in the East. But the focus is just to play these (nine) games and develop some kind of rhythm." Miami opens a four-game homestand after dropping its last two games and currently holds the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference race. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will return Tuesday after missing the first game of his 10-year head coaching career in Sunday's 113-107 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers due to the birth of his son.


TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (44-29): James rolled up 37 points on 14-of-19 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and eight assists in Sunday's 121-114 victory over the Brooklyn Nets to reach 2,000 points in a season for the 10th time and Drew doesn't understand why James isn't the favorite for the MVP award. "You just look at the stat sheet," Drew told reporters of James' averages of 27.5 points, 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds, "and it's just not about points, it's what he's doing on the boards, it's what he's doing from an assists standpoint. He's just a force. He's a force and I mean he has put up MVP numbers without a doubt." All-Star power forward Kevin Love is faring well since returning from a broken hand by averaging 20.3 points and 10 rebounds in four games.

ABOUT THE HEAT (39-35): Franchise icon Dwyane Wade began the season with Cleveland before being dealt to Miami and he has publicly expressed that he may consider retirement after the season. If so, this could be the last time he plays against his long-time friend James, and Wade is looking forward to the contest. "Yeah, it's going to be a great atmosphere on Tuesday," Wade told reporters after Sunday's game. "Our arena is going to be excited for this game. I'm sure they want to continue to play well. Our team will be excited for it. And I always look forward to the matchups."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Cavaliers won two home games against the Heat this season by margins of 11 and two points.

2. Miami C Hassan Whiteside (hip) is expected to miss his ninth straight game.

3. Cleveland F Jeff Green (flu) should be back after a one-game absence, while swingman Kyle Korver will miss his fourth straight game after the death of younger brother Kirk (age 27).

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 110, Heat 107