NEW YORK KNICKS (27-26) 91, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-33) 75
Madison Square Garden
Saturday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Rookie guard Kyrie Irving was held out of Saturday's loss with a sprained right shoulder. It's very important that the Cavs be very careful with their rookie phenom.

Irving reportedly wanted to play, but Coach Byron Scott told him it would be unwise. It's not known whether he'll play on Tuesday against San Antonio.

His offensive prowess was missed.

With that being said, D-League point guard Donald Sloan performed much better than expected. He had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 35 minutes. He committed three turnovers and shot 5 of 10 from the field.

Lester Hudson, signed on Friday, earned backup minutes at point guard. He had four points, six rebounds and three assists in 24 minutes. That kept Manny Harris on the bench for all but 1:04.

The Cavs competed in Saturday's game. They just don't have enough talent to win. They've lost seven in a row, including 10 of the last 11.

During their losing streak, they've averaged just 83.4 points. They've shot 40 percent or worse in six consecutive games. The 75-point output tied their season low from the Detroit game on Wednesday.

With Irving out of the lineup, the Cavs are likely the worst team in the league.In essence, they've turned into a D-League team right before our eyes.

They turned the ball over 20 times on Saturday, which led to 28 points by the Knicks. They can't have that many turnovers and expect to win. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host San Antonio at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Landry Fields (6-7, 215)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Carmelo Anthony (6-8, 230)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Tyson Chandler (7-1, 240)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Iman Shumpert (6-5, 220)
PG Donald Sloan (6-3, 205) vs. Baron Davis (6-3, 215) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody, G Daniel Gibson 
Knicks - F/C Amar'e Stoudemire, F Jared Jeffries 
OFFICIALS

Bill Spooner , Josh Tiven,  Sean Wright

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (24-27) 121, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-32) 84

Quicken Loans Arena
Friday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Could this season get any worse? Absolutely. Can you imagine 40 minutes of Donald Sloan running the point? Oh my.

The Cavs have lost six in a row. Many more are going to follow.

Guard Kyrie Irving sprained his right shoulder in the second quarter. He played the entire third quarter before leaving the game for good. He led all scorers with 29 points, but it might be the last we see of him for a while.

I'd be shocked if he plays in New York. There's too much riding on it.

This team has been almost impossible to watch the last couple weeks with Irving. Without him, many fans will be tuning into the NCAA tournament very early.

The Cavs got their first look at the Bucks' new starting backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. I've always been an Ellis fan. He's 11th in the NBA in scoring at 20.8 per game.

Jennings paced the Bucks with 28 points, followed by Ellis' 13.

The Cavs are having major problems scoring points. They are averaging 85 points during the losing streak. And, that includes the 102 points scored in the overtime loss to Atlanta on March 21. That devastating loss started their recent losing streak.

Coach Byron Scott was asked if that defeat was hard to overcome. He said it hadn't caused the losing streak, but I have a feeling it contributed to it. That was the last time the Cavs played to win instead of looking like they were going through the motions.

The Cavs will have 12 players available for tonight's game. They signed D-League guard Lester Hudson to a 10-day contract. He's been a big scorer since his college days at Tennessee-Martin. He had a basket in his eight-minute stretch.

Despite being a bit short-handed, the Cavs continue to leave forward Luke Harangody with the Canton Charge.

BAD NEWS: I was told before the game I wouldn't be voting on the NBA post-season awards for the first time in almost 10 years. I didn't travel this year, which is one of the stipulations. It's something I took pride in and put a lot of time into over the years.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to New York at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

PROBABLE STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Luc Mbah a Moute (6-8, 230)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Ersan Ilyasova (6-10, 235)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Drew Gooden (6-10, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Monta Ellis (6-3, 185)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Brandon Jennings (6-1, 169) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody, G Daniel Gibson

Bucks - C Kwame Brown, G/F Carlos Delfino 
OFFICIALS

Zach Zarba,  Mark Ayotte,  Olandis Poole

DETROIT PISTONS (18-32) 87, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-31) 75
Quicken Loans Arena
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs matched their season low with 75 points. In their five-game losing streak, they're averaging a paltry 85 points per game.

At least on Wednesday, they played hard and competed. That hasn't been the case in the last few games. They shot just 34.5 percent from the field against the Pistons.

They just don't have the horses. I have a feeling the last 18 games are really going to get ugly. They've been playing with a 14-man roster for the last week. Does it really matter? Do you want to see another D-League player on the roster? I don't. There's plenty to go around now.

The Pistons leapfrogged past the Cavs with the win. They are no longer in last place. That distinction belongs to the Cavs.

Coach Byron Scott is searching for answers right now.

The Cavs had a four-game winning streak against the Pistons snapped on Wednesday.

They'll have to adjust to playing without guard Daniel Gibson for likely the rest of the season. Not that he was having a great season. That's anything but the case. But the backup guards are Donald Sloan and Manny Harris, and after watching them, it left me thinking they were in the D-League for a reason.

Harris continues to make mistakes. He still can't handle the ball at the NBA level. He does score, so for now, that will have to do.

I've been campaigning to see more minutes for Harris. Now that he's getting them, I've been disappointed with his play. But now's the time to watch him play. Anthony Parker should start to ramp down as far as minutes go, since he won't be back next year.

This is expected to be his last season with the Cavs, and most likely in the NBA. He's one of the class acts in the league, much like Antawn Jamison. They are adults, look you in the eye when you talk to them, and know what it takes to hang around in this league.

Every player in that locker room should take heed. Many of these guys won't be back next year - thank goodness - and can learn from their professionalism.

Sloan had two points and two assists in 11 minutes. Harris had nine points in 15 minutes, even though he was 3 of 10 from the field.

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Tayshaun Prince (6-9, 215)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Jason Maxiell (6-7, 260)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Greg Monroe (6-11, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Rodney Stuckey (6-5, 205)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Brandon Knight (6-3, 189) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody
Pistons - F/C Vernon Macklin 
OFFICIALS

Ed Malloy,  Courtney Kirkland,  Scott Twardoski

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (28-22) 103, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-30) 85

Wells Fargo Center
Tuesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio/NBA TV


WHAT HAPPENED: The wheels are coming off the Cavs. They appear to be going through the motions. The fire and drive from earlier in the season is long gone. I have a sneaking suspicion that the players know things are hopeless.

First, Anderson Varejao went down, followed by the trade of Ramon Sessions and now the season-ending injury to Boobie Gibson. There is a manpower shortage.

Instead of looking at this as an opportunity to show themselves, players are starting to show signs of packing it in. They've lost four in a row and seven of the last eight. Their only win in that stretch is against New Jersey, which is in the same boat.

You know something is wrong when it's Anthony Parker who leads the Cavs in scoring with 14 points.

Coach Byron Scott ran them ragged in practice on Monday. He said they haven't run as much in practice since training camp. If they're going to look sluggish in Tuesday's game, Scott said he'll know why. They were, and he's still searching for answers.

The Cavs have lost their last four games to the Sixers. Philadelphia ran them off the court on Feb. 11 at The Q, 99-84.

The Sixers' backcourt was devastating once again. Their starters outscored the Cavs' backcourt, 50-26. They also bullied the Cavs in scoring in the paint, 54-24.

All-Star Andre Iguodala didn't even play due to left patella tendinitis.

The Sixers are first in points allowed (87.6) and opponents' field-goal percentage (41.9). They also have the fewest turnovers in the NBA (11.0).  

NOTES: Former Cavs point guard Ben Uzoh signed a 10-day contract with Toronto on Tuesday. Ex-Cavs guard and native Clevelander Earl Boykins signed a 10-day with Houston.

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Detroit at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Jodie Meeks (6-4, 208)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Elton Brand (6-9, 254)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Spencer Hawes (7-1, 245)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jrue Holiday (6-4, 180) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody
76ers - none
OFFICIALS

Tony Brothers,  Rodney Mott,  James Williams

PHOENIX SUNS (25-24) 108, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-29) 83

Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Suns have surpassed the .500 mark, which is quite an accomplishment. After some early season struggles, they've put themselves in contention for the No. 8 playoff spot in the Western Conference.

They are one game behind Denver for the final spot.

In the first meeting between the Suns and Cavs, guard Kyrie Irving had his way against future Hall of Famer Steve Nash. Irving had 26 points and six assists in the Cavs' 101-90 victory in Phoenix.

It was one of the early signs that Irving was going to be special with the way he dominated the point guard matchup against Nash.

Irving once again was good on Sunday with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.

But it was the rest of the team that struggled. They had just two players reach double figures. The other was forward Omri Casspi, who matched his season high with 14 points.

Coach Byron Scott was direct after the game.

"We are not a very good team right now," he said.

Who can argue?

Not me.

They're not.


The problem now isn't Irving. It's the 12 minutes he's not on the court. They must get production out of the second unit. That starts with backup point guard Donald Sloan.

He looked like a D-Leaguer in his last outing in Orlando. If he continues to resemble that player, the Cavs will continue to falter. Ramon Sessions, he's not.

There are only 20 games left in the season. The Cavs will haven't figured out their backup minutes at center and power forward. Obviously, some new blood is needed. 

Guard Manny Harris pulled down a career-high nine rebounds off the bench.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Philadelphia at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wachovia Center.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Grant Hill (6-8, 225)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Channing Frye (6-11, 245)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Marcin Gortat (6-11, 240)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Jared Dudley (6-7, 225)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Steve Nash (6-3, 178) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody
Suns - none
OFFICIALS

Marc Davis , Brent Barnaky,  Gary Zielinski

ORLANDO MAGIC (31-18) 93, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-28) 80
Amway Center
Friday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: It's like the movie, "Groundhog's Day" when the Cavs play the Magic. The Cavs have lost eight in a row to the Magic, including their last five at Amway Center. It's largely because of one player - center Dwight Howard. They just don't have anyone that can even slow him down.

He's powerful around the basket. He normally manhandles the Cavs in the paint. He had 16 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks on Friday.

They list Cavs rookie center Tristan Thompson at 6-foot-9, 227 pounds. Howard is 6-11, 275, and as strong as an ox. Ever tried moving an ox? Try it sometime. Thompson tried on Friday with 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. He was up for the battle.

Howard is certainly not a well-rounded player. Push him 10 feet from the basket and he's largely ineffective. However, it's easier said than done.

The Cavs rarely double team players on defense. They gave Thompson some help with the occasional double team. When that happens, the Magic have a way of finding their 3-point shooters. They have several of them, too. They made 12 of 35 from behind the arc. They outscored the Cavs from long range, 36-12.

One can see why the Cavs just can't figure out the Magic. That goes back to the loss to Orlando in the 2009 playoffs. They couldn't figure out how to beat them then, and things haven't changed.

Perhaps the two top candidates for Most Improved Player were on the court Friday - Magic forward Ryan Anderson and Cavs forward Alonzo Gee. Anderson had 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks against the Cavs. He'll likely win the award, but Gee is a legitimate candidate.

There's so much attention paid to Miami and Chicago, people tend to forget about the Magic in the playoff picture. They currently have the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. They'll be a tough out in the postseason.

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson didn't play because of his sprained left ankle. That means more playing time for Donald Sloan and Manny Harris in the backcourt. It's time to take a closer look at the pair of D-League prospects.

Neither player played very well on Friday. Sloan had three turnovers in 16 minutes. Harris was just 2 of 9 from the field for seven points.

The Cavs lost to Orlando on Feb. 3, 102-94.

NOTES: Forward Luke Walton made his Cavs' debut on Friday. He was scoreless in three minutes.

-- Former Cavs center Ryan Hollins was signed by the Boston Celtics on Friday. They needed a big man in the worst way with injuries to Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox. They waived Wilcox on Friday. He will have heart surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. Hollins was bought out of his contract with the Cavs and waived last Tuesday.

-- Also, the Cavs' game at Philadelphia on Tuesday will be broadcast on NBA TV. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Phoenix at 3 p.m. Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Hedo Turkoglu (6-10, 220)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Ryan Anderson (6-10, 240)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Dwight Howard (6-11, 275)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Jason Richardson (6-6, 225)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jameer Nelson (6-0, 190) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody
Magic - G Von Wafer, F Justin Harper 
OFFICIALS

Monty McCutchen,  Mark Ayotte,  Eli Roe

ATLANTA HAWKS (27-20) 103, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-27) 102 (OT)
Philips Arena
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs normally take the court against the Hawks and proceed to get manhandled. In two previous losses this year, the Cavs have lost by a combined 43 points.

That was anything but the case on Wednesday. The Cavs had control of the game for most of the night, but failed to close it out. Of course, Hawks guard Joe Johnson's 3-pointer at the fourth-quarter buzzer was the one that hurt the worst.

Knowing they needed a 3 to send it into overtime, that's exactly what Hawks coach Larry Drew drew up in the huddle. Johnson took care of the rest. In reality, the Cavs should have crowded all of their long-range shooters on the last play. Instead, Johnson got way too much space on Anthony Parker and drained the shot. Horrible execution by the defense. You can't let that happen there. Let them have a two-point bucket. Even foul on the play and send them to the line. The worst thing that could happen is what took place - and it ended up costing them a win.

The Cavs took advantage of a clear-path foul on the Hawks in OT and built a five-point lead. But some ill-advised shots down the stretch led to their undoing. Johnson once again stuck it to the Cavs. His 14-foot fadeaway jumper with 18 seconds left in overtime was the game-winner.

Cavs guard Kyrie Irving missed a 18-footer that would have won the game. Alonzo Gee's putback was off the mark.

The Cavs have lost seven in a row to the Hawks, including the last four at Philips Arena.

Gee did a good job defensively on Johnson on Wednesday, holding him to a 7-for-19 shooting performance. But Johnson made the two biggest shots in the game, so let's not get too carried away with Gee's defense.

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson didn't play with a sprained left ankle. He probably won't play in Orlando on Friday, either. The Cavs are describing the injury as a "sprain." I hope it isn't a stress fracture. But I might be getting ahead of myself here.

Once Irving sits down, it's imperative that Donald Sloan holds the fort. That's been a problem since Ramon Sessions was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Things have fallen apart when Irving takes a seat.

It's time for Manny Harris to shine in a backup role behind Anthony Parker. Harris had a season-high 11 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes against the Hawks. His scoring ability has never been questioned.

Harris is a pure scorer. It's the rest of his game that is questionable, most notably his ballhandling and decision-making. He's been turnover-prone throughout his career. He said he worked hard on those things in the offseason, but he had a major setback with the ulcer on his foot in the preseason. The foot is fine now - he offered to show it to me recently, so I took a look. Everything looked OK.

Coach Byron Scott said he saw pictures of the cryogenic "burn" in the preseason and it was scary.

All that's behind him now.

Hawks center Zaza Pachulia was held in check on Wednesday with 14 points and seven rebounds. He still impacted the game with his toughness.

It was forward Josh Smith who exploited the Cavs with 32 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. He was 12 of 14 from the foul line. Smith took a few crazy shots, but was dominant. Cavs forward Antawn Jamison tried to counter Smith with 23 points and 12 rebounds. He shot the ball well with a 9-for-17 performance.

Center Tristan Thompson had 13 points and five rebounds against the Hawks. In three games as the starting center, he's averaged 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds. Ryan Hollins, waived on Tuesday, won't be missed. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Orlando at 7 p.m. Friday at Amway Center.

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Joe Johnson (6-7, 240)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Josh Smith (6-9, 225)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Zaza Pachulia (6-11, 275)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Kirk Hinrich (6-4, 190)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jeff Teague (6-2, 181) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody
Hawks - G Jannero Pargo, C Al Horford
OFFICIALS

Ron Garretson,  Tony Brown,  Kevin Cutler

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (17-26) 105, NEW JERSEY NETS (15-32) 100

Prudential Center
Monday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Kyrie Irving scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter. He's Mr. Fourth Quarter. However, things were a bit tense there for a while.

Of course, the Cavs dealt Ramon Sessions in the five-player trade with the Los Angeles Lakers last Thursday. The Cavs didn't have another player on the roster who was a pure point guard. They had Daniel Gibson waiting in the wings, but he’s a combo guard. Yes, he can give you minutes at point guard, but he’s a more natural shooting guard.

They signed D-League point guard Donald Sloan last Friday, and he was pressed into action on Monday at the Prudential Center. He scored 11 points, had three rebounds and one assist in the Cavs’ win over New Jersey.

Gibson suffered an ankle injury in the second half and didn’t return.

When Irving got in foul trouble – he ended with five personal fouls – Sloan was needed. Adding more suspense is the fact that G Manny Harris was mysteriously inactive on Monday, even though the Cavs had two players already not playing – C Anderson Varejao (fractured wrist) and F Luke Harangody (on assignment in D-League).

Sloan stepped in and played 20 minutes in his Cavs’ debut. He made 4 of 6 shots, including a 3-pointer. If he plays like that, he’ll earn more playing time.

Center Tristan Thompson certainly made up for a so-so debut in the starting lineup. In his first game as the starting center on Sunday against Atlanta, he finished with seven points and six rebounds. He was fantastic against New Jersey on Monday with a career-high 27 points, 12 rebounds (eight offensive) and a block. He was 12 of 16 from the field, several on dunks.

All of a sudden, F Antawn Jamison can’t make a shot. In his last three games, he’s shooting 26.3 percent from the field (15 of 57). His scoring has dipped to 14.3 points in the last three games. On the season, Jamison is averaging 18.3 points and is shooting 41.2 percent from the floor.

The Nets have lost five of their last six, including three in a row. The Cavs snapped their three-game losing streak on Monday.

The Cavs were sellers at the trade deadline. The Nets were buyers. They added forward Gerald Wallace for a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. The pick is protected in the top three. What possessed them to deal that pick is beyond me, even though I love how hard Wallace plays.

The Cavs and Nets are still in the Eastern Conference playoff race on paper. In reality, neither of them are going to make it.

The Nets are expected to move from Newark, N.J., to Brooklyn next year.

Whether they can hang onto their lone marquee player - guard Deron Williams - is yet to be seen. He  could opt out of his contract this summer.

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Philips Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Gerald Wallace (6-7, 220)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kris Humphries (6-9, 235)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Sheldon Williams (6-9, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. MarShon Brooks (6-5, 200)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Deron Williams (6-3, 209) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody, G Manny Harris
Nets - F Damion James, C Brook Lopez 
OFFICIALS

David Jones,  Scott Bolnick,  Eric Dalen

ATLANTA HAWKS (26-19) 103, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-26) 87
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: There have been several moving parts surrounding the Cavs in the last three days. Guys coming and going.

After all the maneuvering, are they a better team than they were on Wednesday? Probably not. And that's fine with some people. Getting that sacred draft pick is all that matters to them.

This team was still just 2 1/2 games behind the New York Knicks for the No. 8 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. A much larger divide is likely coming in the last 24 games.

Looking at this team heading into the season, it didn't have the look of a playoff team. At one point this season, the Cavs overachieved and put themselves in the thick of the race. Losing Ramon Sessions is going to hurt.

Several new players, and one that was here before, have been brought aboard. Coach Byron Scott said if they see someone they like, they could add another young player.

Luke Walton, Donald Sloan and Manny Harris have been added. Sessions and Christian Eyenga have been dispatched to the Lakers.

The reason Sessions will be missed is that they don't have a legitimate backup point guard. I've never seen Sloan play. He's compact and stocky at 6-2, 205 pounds. Scott will try Daniel Gibson at the spot initially, but he'll likely play himself out of it. He struggles at the point guard position. He had just three points and two assists on Sunday, even though he did pull down a season-high eight rebounds.

So, Sloan might actually play. Why not? What do they have to lose?

The same can be said about Walton. Is he better than Omri Casspi right now? Probably. Don't be shocked if the 31-year-old Walton plays ahead of Casspi if it's strictly a basketball decision. But it's not, as we know. The Cavs want Casspi to succeed. Like Walton, they have him under contract for one more year.

We talked on and on about Toronto not matching up well with the Cavs. The Hawks fit into that category, too. They just do whatever they want against the Cavs. They've won their last six games against the Cavs, who haven't won in the series since April 2, 2010. The Cavs have also lost their last three home games against the Hawks.

Atlanta spanked the Cavs on Jan. 21, 121-94. Tristan Thompson, who is making his first NBA start today at center, sprained his ankle against the Hawks in the earlier meeting.

The Cavs are just 3-13 this season against East playoff teams. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Prudential Center. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Joe Johnson (6-7, 240)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Josh Smith (6-9, 225)
C Tristan Thompson (6-9, 227) vs. Zaza Pachulia (6-11, 275)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Kirk Hinrich (6-4, 190)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jeff Teague (6-2, 181) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – C Anderson Varejao, F Luke Harangody 
Hawks - F Marvin Williams, C Al Horford
OFFICIALS

Mike Callahan,

Tommy Nunez Jr.,

Sean Wright

The Cavaliers waived forward Jason Kapono on Saturday and signed shooting guard Manny Harris for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

Harris most recently completed a second 10-day contract with the Cavs on March 11. He has appeared in just three games this season.

Kapono was acquired on Thursday, along with forward Luke Walton, the Los Angeles Lakers’ first-round pick this summer and cash in exchange for guard Ramon Sessions and guard/forward Christian Eyenga.

The money acquired from the Lakers was probably enough to pay off what was left on Kapono’s contract (approximately $400,000).

MILWAUKEE BUCKS (19-24) 115, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-25) 105
Bradley Center
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs dropped two games behind the Bucks for the No. 8 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It might be difficult to catch up to the Bucks. They've got better players and more of them, especially after their trade on Tuesday when they added Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh from the Warriors.

The Bucks have taken on the identity of their hard-nosed coach, Scott Skiles. Like Byron Scott, he's not easy to play for.

The Bucks have had some injury problems, most notably to center Andrew Bogut. They took care of that problem on Tuesday when they traded the 7-foot center and malcontent Stephen Jackson to Golden State. None of the Bucks players were active on Wednesday, and they didn't need them.

They outscored the Cavs, 58-50, in the second half to leave them in their dust. The difference in the game was center Drew Gooden, who recorded his second career triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and matched his career high with 13 assists.

The former Cavs forward/center now has two career triple-doubles, both against the Cavs. The 6-foot-10, 250-pounder has become a very efficient player, who now passes like a point guard. He also had two blocks and a steal.

The Bucks, of course, aren't the only team the Cavs must leapfrog if they are to snag the eighth spot in the East. New York is also ahead of them. The Knicks started the night at 18-24, and now have a new coach in Mike Woodson. They parted ways with Coach Mike D'Antoni on Wednesday, which may or may not help their playoff cause.

The Cavs could change radically in the next 24 hours with the trade deadline looming. GM Chris Grant is certainly trying to get something done. Guard Ramon Sessions is rumored to be traded to the Lakers.

They have their hands in several possible deals right now. It still remains to be seen if they can get a first-round pick in return. They are certainly trying. My guess right now is that they can't.

I've been hearing Daniel Gibson's name floating around, as well. He was 5 of 8 from the 3-point arc against the Bucks en route to 18 points, one off his season high.

Guard Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 28 points, but he also committed eight of the Cavs' 14 turnovers.

The Cavs have allowed 30 offensive rebounds in the last two nights, both losses. They got decked on the boards against Milwaukee, 49-34. Their leading rebounds on the night were Alonzo Gee and Antawn Jamison with five apiece. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Atlanta at 3 p.m. Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Tobias Harris (6-8, 226)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Ersan Ilyasova (6-10, 235)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Drew Gooden (6-10, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Carlos Delfino (6-6, 230)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Brandon Jennings (6-1, 169) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody 
Bucks - C Kwame Brown, G Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh 
OFFICIALS
Michael Smith, David Jones, Kevin Scott

TORONTO RAPTORS (14-28) 96, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-24) 88
Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs definitely owe one to the Raptors, but they'll have to wait until April 6 in Toronto.

The Raptors have won three games against the Cavs by a combined 31 points this season.

It's mostly a matchup problem. The Raptors score so effortlessly against the Cavs.

Coach Byron Scott said he can't understand the relative ease in which the Raptors have beaten the Cavs this year.

"There are always teams that have your number," Scott said.

It starts with power forward Andrea Bargnani, who does whatever he wants against Cavs power forward Antawn Jamison on the defensive end. Jamison outscored him, 20-19, but failed to grab a rebound.

There were several numbers that jumped off the box score: 14 offensive rebounds for the Raptors, 38.2 percent shooting from the field for the Cavs and 20 percent from the 3-point line.

The Cavs lucked out with point guard Jose Calderon's ankle injury. Jerryd Bayless fired in 20 points and dished out seven assists in the starting lineup. One could make a case that he was the best player on the court.

It certainly wasn't Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving, who shot 5 of 17 from the field. He said the rookie wall is a myth. Then in his next breath, he said he hasn't hit it yet.

There was no fourth quarter magic for Irving on this night. He missed all five of his shots in the fourth and had two points. He came into the game averaging 9.1 points in the fourth quarter of his previous 17 games.

Overall, Irving has been struggling a bit. In his last four games, he's shooting just 31.8 percent from the field (14 of 44). 

UP NEXT: The Cavs will travel to Milwaukee at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bradley Center. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. James Johnson (6-9, 248)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Andrea Bargnani (7-0, 256)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Amir Johnson (6-9, 210)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. DeMar DeRozan (6-7, 216)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Jerryd Bayless (6-3, 208) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Raptors - G Jose Calderon, G Anthony Carter 
OFFICIALS

Michael Smith,

David Jones,

Kevin Scott

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (16-23) 118, HOUSTON ROCKETS (22-20) 107
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Cavs have now won three in a row, but all the talk after the game was the trade deadline. We're only days away from the deadline. Will the Cavs trade Ramon Sessions or Antawn Jamison?

Point guard Kyle Lowry, once signed to an offer sheet by the Cavs, is in the hospital with a stomach problem. His absence made a big difference for the Rockets, even though they dished out 25 assists.

Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving did play, but not as well as fans have been accustomed. But once the fourth quarter arrived, he was his normal self. He scored 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Guard Manny Harris' second 10-day contract expired after Sunday's game. The Cavs didn't suppress the news. Harris sat down in his locker and said he had been let go.

He said he's not sure what he's going to do, other than wait until after the trade deadline to make a decision. Heck, the Cavs could bring him back at a later day, but they'd have to sign him for the rest of the season.

The Cavs like the fact that they have an open roster spot in case they pull off a two-for-one deal at the deadline. Harris said he might return to the D-League Canton Charge at a later date. I wish they could have given him more of a chance. He played only three games during his two 10-day contracts.

My guess is the Cavs are going to do something tradewise. They are trying really hard to get another first-round pick. They aren't having any luck. They could acquire a young player with their cap space.

Hornets center Emeka Okafor's name has been kicked around. It sounds like they might have some interest in absorbing his massive contract. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Toronto at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Chandler Parsons (6-9, 227)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Luis Scola (6-9, 245)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Samuel Dalembert (6-11, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Kevin Martin (6-7, 185)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Goran Dragic (6-3, 190) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Rockets - G Terrence Williams, G Kyle Lowry 
OFFICIALS
Tom Washington, Sir Allen Conner, Mark Lindsay

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (15-23) 96, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (31-9) 90
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Friday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: If anyone can figure out this team, please let me know. After losing six games in a row and looking like it was ready to go belly-up, the Cavs went on the road and beat Denver and Oklahoma City.

The Thunder had won 14 in a row at home. They also had an NBA-best 17-1 record at home. So, the Cavs come in and just take it to the Thunder.

It was perhaps their biggest win of the season. Some numbers just jump off the box score: The Cavs had 13 steals. They outrebounded Oklahoma City, 51-32. The Cavs had 21 offensive rebounds. Kyrie Irving had a career-high 12 assists.

These came against a team that could emerge from the Western Conference this season and make it to the NBA Finals. The Thunder not only have size, athleticism and talent, they have depth. They are also well-coached by Scottie Brooks.

It adds up to a team that could win the NBA championship.

The Cavs are now 7-11 on the road. It's not much worse than they are at home (8-12).

One reason they won was Alonzo Gee's defensive performance against Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant, who came into the game averaging 28.1 points per game, second only to Kobe Bryant in the NBA scoring race. KD must have felt as if Gee was glued to him all night. Durant finished with a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. But he had two or three baskets late after the game had already been decided.

The Cavs also got good games from shooting guard Anthony Parker (14 points) and center Ryan Hollins (11 points, six rebounds). Also, forward/center Tristan Thompson snapped out of a mini-slump with five points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

When the Cavs come out and decide they want to play hard, they are quite competitive. They also won without a big offensive game from Irving, who had just nine points. He did have three steals and six rebounds. He made just 4 of 12 from the field.

In Irving's last 17 games, he's averaging 8.7 points in the fourth quarter - tops in the NBA. He was limited to just five in the fourth quarter on Friday.

In the last three minutes this season, he's averaging 3.4 points, third most in the league.

Forward Antawn Jamison, though, is on quite a roll for the Cavs. He's averaging 23.5 points and 8.2 rebounds in his last 10 games.


UP NEXT: The Cavs host Houston at 6 p.m. Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena. 

STARTERS
SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Kevin Durant (6-9, 235)
PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Serge Ibaka (6-10, 235)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Kendrick Perkins (6-10, 270)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Daequan Cook (6-5, 210)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Russell Westbrook (6-3, 187) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Thunder - G Eric Maynor, G Thabo Sefolosha 
OFFICIALS

James Capers,  Matt Boland,  Tony Brown

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (14-23) 100, DENVER NUGGETS (22-18) 99
Pepsi Center
Wednesday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: This was one of the most exciting games of the season. Remember, the Nuggets have had the Cavs' number over the years. They came into Wednesday's game having won four in a row over the Cavs in the lopsided series, as well as eight of their last 10.

They pounded the Cavs twice last season and averaged 122 points in the two games. Denver scored 80 points in the first half of the Jan. 15, 2011, game, a franchise record for a Cavs' opponent.

The Cavs have never matched up well against the Nuggets. Never have and probably never will. They didn't compete very well when LeBron James was on the team. It must be the high altitude.

So, what happens on Wednesday? The Cavs came out ready to play. were actually aggressive and played rugged defense. It's about darn time! I have a feeling it was because of some guy that had No. 2 on his jersey.

Cavs coach Byron Scott made two significant moves to his starting lineup. He didn't have many more buttons to push. It was up to the players to start earning their money, and they did.

They snapped a six-game losing streak. Forward Antawn Jamison was fantastic with a game-high 33 points, one off his season high. He made 11 of 21 from the field.

He's right on guard Kyrie Irving's tail for the team's scoring lead, 18.6-18.3.

Irving, once again, was great in the fourth quarter. He scored the winning basket with 4 seconds left, and then defended Ty Lawson on an ill-fated layup attempt at the final buzzer. He was playing with five personal fouls, too.

He ended with 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists and three steals. he was 8 of 16 from the field. This kid has made a major impact on the Cavs.

Forward Alonzo Gee, in his third game as the starting small forward, added 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a game-high four steals and one block. He is definitely a keeper.

Part of the Cavs' recent problem is at shooting guard where none of their players can seemingly make a shot. That's not a good thing. Anthony Parker and Boobie Gibson are slumping. Manny Harris should be given a chance. Do you really want to see more minutes for AP? This is his last year with the team - we're assuming - and possibly in the NBA. Harris could be someone you want to bring back next year. He has some future in the league, but it won't be realized sitting on the bench.

Some new blood is needed at shooting guard in the worst way.

That takes us to the center position. Ryan Hollins, Semih Erden and Samardo Samuels can't get the job done. Clear them out. Give them a one-way ticket out of town after the season.

I have to tell you, I don't like how Irving has been starting games. He tries to get his teammates involved instead of just coming out firing. This team is so inept offensively, he's one of the few players who can score. What's he trying to do, get AP or Hollins going? C'mon. Shoot the ball and get to the basket. That's the only way the Cavs will have a chance. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Oklahoma City at 8 p.m. Friday at Chesapeake Energy Arena. 

STARTERS

SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Corey Brewer (6-9, 188)

PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Kenneth Faried (6-8, 228)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Nene (6-11, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Aaron Afflalo (6-5, 215)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Ty Lawson (5-11, 195) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, F Luke Harangody
Nuggets - G/F Rudy Fernandez 
OFFICIALS

Derrick Stafford,  Eric Lewis,  Tre Maddox

UTAH JAZZ (18-19) 109, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (13-23) 100

Quicken Loans Arena
Monday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Jazz are the last-place team in the Northwest Division. The Cavs appear to be heading there unless they find a way to right the ship. They have lost six in a row and are starting to show their blemishes.

Coach Byron Scott made two significant changes to the starting lineup. The new starters are Alonzo Gee at small forward and Ryan Hollins at center. It's hard to figure just what's next.

This team looks like it could go belly-up. Something drastic needs to happen to snap them out of this tail spin.

They went into the game knowing they had to hold down the Jazz's two frontcourt brutes - Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. But both big men did what they wanted. Jefferson had a game-high 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Magnificent night.

He got little resistance from Hollins, who finished with three points and four rebounds in 27 minutes. This team needs to find another quality big either in the draft, free agency or via trade. It probably won't happen at the trade deadline, just nine days away.

They are expected to be sellers and not buyers at the deadline, if they do anything at all. I have serious doubts they can get a first-round pick for Ramon Sessions, but it could happen.


The Jazz knocked off the Cavs on Jan. 10, 113-105. Jefferson had 22 of his season-high 30 points in the second half when the Jazz held off the Cavs.



UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Denver at 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Pepsi Center.

STARTERS

SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Josh Howard (6-7, 210)

PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Paul Millsap (6-8, 253)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. Al Jefferson (6-10, 289)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Raja Bell (6-5, 210)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. Devin Harris (6-3, 192) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, C Anderson Varejao 
Jazz - F DeMarre Carroll 
OFFICIALS

Ron Garretson,  Scott Wall,  Zach Zarba

WASHINGTON WIZARDS (8-28) 101, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (13-22) 98
Verizon Center
Saturday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: Coach Byron Scott made two significant changes to the starting lineup. First, he finally benched Omri Casspi at small forward. Many wondered why that wasn't done 10 games ago.

The Cavs gave Casspi a long leash after he got off to a slow start. Everyone kept saying he'd snap out of it and kept making excuses for him. Scott even said he plays like a pit bull. That was anything but the case. He played a lot of invisible minutes, just out on the floor doing nothing.

Alonzo Gee is a better player. Take advantage of it. Gee had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes. Casspi had three points and three rebounds in 10 minutes.

Scott also benched center Semih Erden. He never got off the bench and suffered a DNP-CD. Ryan Hollins earned his first start of the season and was quite good with 15 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes, all season highs.

Guard Kyrie Irving looked for him several times on alley-oop passes, something that hasn't been done since Baron Davis was on the team.

Even though the moves seemed to work, the Cavs still lost their fifth consecutive game. That's their longest losing streak of the season. They also have games coming up this week against Utah, Denver, Oklahoma City, Houston and Toronto. Five games could turn into 10 in a hurry.

Irving returned after a one-game absence with an "illness" on Friday. One theory is that the Cavs probably thought they would have been hard pressed to win the Bulls game whether Irving played or not. They might have decided to rest him and take their chances against John Wall and the Wizards on Saturday.

Irving was good on Saturday with 20 points and six assists in 31 minutes. Wall was better with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Wizards snapped a six-game losing streak. Things haven't gone well since they fired Flip Saunders on Jan. 24 and replaced him with interim coach Randy Wittman. Wittman, of course, coached the Cavs for two seasons. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs host Utah at 7 p.m. Monday at Quicken Loans Arena.

STARTERS

SF Alonzo Gee (6-6, 219) vs. Chris Singleton (6-9, 225)

PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Trevor Booker (6-8, 235)
C Ryan Hollins (7-0, 240) vs. JaVale McGee (7-1, 250)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Jordan Crawford (6-4, 195)
PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 191) vs. John Wall (6-4, 195) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, C Anderson Varejao 
Wizards - F/C Ronny Turiaf 
OFFICIALS

Tony Brothers,  Curtis Blair,  Haywoode Workman

CHICAGO BULLS (30-8) 112, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (13-21) 91
Quicken Loans Arena
Friday
Radio/TV: WTAM/Fox Sports Ohio

WHAT HAPPENED: The Bulls come into Friday's game at full strength. The Cavs can't say that. Guard Kyrie Irving missed Friday's game with an illness. It affected the Cavs negatively. They were doomed from the start.

The Bulls have beaten the Cavs by a combined 60 points in their two meetings this season. The last time, on Jan. 20, the Bulls blasted the Cavs, 114-75. That was the worst loss at home in Cavs history.

The Bulls played without MVP Derrick Rose in that game. He's back, boy, is he ever. Since returning from a lower back injury on Feb. 20 vs. Atlanta, Rose has posted three games of 20 or more points, including a 32-point, nine-assist contest against New Orleans.

In his four games back, he's averaging 25 points, 2.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.25 blocks..

He's a big reason the Bulls lead the league in assists per game (23.1). They are also second
in points allowed (88.1) and first in rebounds per game (45.8).

This team defended so well in the first meeting with the Cavs, their offense couldn't function properly. The Bulls were beating them to their spots and just wreaked havoc on them.

The Cavs have lost three in a row overall, and also their last seven to the Bulls.

The Cavs signed guard Manny Harris to a second 10-day contract on Friday. He scored nine points in 18 minutes against the Bulls.

Coach Byron Scott hinted that changes are forthcoming. Obviously, center Semih Erden and forward Omri Casspi are the most vulnerable starters. He could replace both players. Samardo Samuels might be next in line to start at center. Of course, Wizards center JaVale McGee is extremely long and Scott might want to match him up with a fellow 7-footer.


We'll find out on Saturday. Alonzo Gee could start at small forward, even though he wasn't very good on Friday. He made just 3 of 11 shots for six points. 

UP NEXT: The Cavs travel to Washington at 7 p.m. Saturday at Verizon Center. 

STARTERS

SF Omri Casspi (6-9, 225) vs. Luol Deng (6-8, 220)

PF Antawn Jamison (6-9, 235) vs. Carlos Boozer (6-9, 266)
C Semih Erden (7-0, 240) vs. Joakim Noah (6-11, 232)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Rip Hamilton (6-7, 193)
PG Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) vs. Derrick Rose (6-3, 190) 
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs – G/F Christian Eyenga, C Anderson Varejao 
Bulls - none
OFFICIALS

James Capers,  John Goble,  Tommy Nunez Jr.