After beating the Detroit Pistons 128-96 on Tuesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. The Cavaliers improved to 27-7 at home after Tuesday’s win over the Pistons. Cleveland still sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 44-22 record, including a 30-11 mark against East opponents.
The Jazz will be last Western Conference opponent that will visit Cleveland this regular season. The Jazz are 32-9 this season when Gordon Hayward scores more than 20 points, just as he did in the first game vs. the Cavaliers; Rudy Gobert, the NBA leader in blocks, has at least one block in 36 straight games (the longest streak in the league this season).
Dominant Cavaliers expect Love's, Korver's return
Cleveland will aim to keep their dominance over the West as they welcome an up-and-coming Utah Jazz squad into the North Coast.
The Northwest Division leading Utah Jazz enter Thursday's game as the 4th seed in the West with a 42-25 record. Gordon Hayward is the big reason for Utah's success this season. The 26-year-old forward is averaging 22.0 points and 5.0 assists. Utah is 32-9 when he scores 20-plus points and 7-3 when he scores 30-plus.
"We'll have our hands full," Gordon Hayward said after beating the Clippers. "But I'm glad that we're going out there after a win like tonight (against the Los Angeles Clippers). I think that gives you a little bit of confidence.
It definitely makes you feel better on those long flights out east."
Cleveland Cavaliers Update: (Cavs) - Kevin Love, (Left Knee Arthroscopy - Feb. 14, Out), Kyle Korver, (Left Foot, Out)
Cavaliers’ general manager David Griffin has updated the reporters on Kevin Love’s injury: “I would anticipate that he’ll play sometime on the road trip,” Griffin said.
“Everything that happens for him is just a step in the process. Every next step you take in a rehab situation when you come back from surgery allows for the possibility of swelling and setback. It’s just how it goes. That’s why the timeline was what it was.”
Korver should be back on the court soon, according to head coach Tyronn Lue.
He was hot before the injury and his shooting could pay dividends for the Cavaliers in May and June. Whether or not he will play against the Jazz, his return is imminent. Prior to injury, Korver was averaging 11.1 points and 2.8 3-pointers per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the field (48.7 percent from three) in 26 games with the Cavaliers this season.
After playing the Jazz the Cavaliers go on the road at the Los Angeles Clippers on March 18, at the Los Angeles Lakers on March 19 and at Denver on March 22. The road trip ends in Charlotte on March 24.
Utah Jazz update: Derrick Favors (left knee bone contusion) and Shelvin Mack (sprained left ankle) are questionable.
Derrick Favors will be re-evaluated in a few days.
He has been out this week with a bone contusion on his left knee. Coach Quin Snyder will play Joe Johnson and Joe Ingles while he is recovering. Also, Rodney Hood’s right knee has been a source of trouble all season, so there's a good chance Utah will hold him out of Thursday's game even if he's feeling better.
Probable starters
Cleveland Cavaliers
F LeBron James, F Richard Jefferson, C Tristan Thompson, G Iman Shumpert, G Kyrie Irving
Utah Jazz
F Gordon Hayward, F Boris Diaw, C Rudy Gobert, G Rodney Hood (Joe Ingles), G George Hill
The Jazz have won the last two games against the Cavaliers but haven't beaten them in Cleveland since March of 2012.
