Cavs aiming for rebound in tilt with Suns

Posted: Wed Feb 11 10:55 AM

(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to bounce back from consecutive losses for the first time this season when they return home to host the Phoenix Suns at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavs got their first taste of defeat at home this season with a 101-91 setback to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, then dropped a 96-95 decision at Indiana Tuesday night despite LeBron James' 47 points on 15-of-21 shooting.

James is averaging 36.2 points in his last five games, including a season-high 52 points at New York last Wednesday.

Mo Williams, who was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star squad as a replacement for Toronto's Chris Bosh, had 15 points for the Cavaliers, who have dropped two straight since a four-game winning streak. Zydrunas Ilgauskas chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Cleveland had started off the season with 23 straight wins at Quicken Loans Arena before falling to the Lakers.

Meanwhile, the struggling Suns will wrap up a three-game road trip Wednesday against the Cavs and fell to 1-1 on the trek after Monday's 108-91 loss at Philadelphia. Steve Nash, who had 21 assists in Sunday's win at Detroit, posted just two points and eight assists against the Sixers.

Amare Stoudemire recorded a team-high 19 points for the Suns, while Jason Richardson ended with 16 points in defeat. Shaquille O'Neal was held in check with just seven points and 10 boards for Phoenix, which has dropped seven of its last 12 overall games and is 14-12 away from home in 2008-09.

The Suns went 2-0 against Cleveland last season and have won four straight, six of seven and 15 of the last 18 meetings in the series. These two teams have split the 12 most recent encounters in Ohio.