Cav's-C's-Preview

[Steve Huffman <stevhuff@eastky.net>]

Saturday, November 29th
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National Basketball Association  on TV
 -------------------------------
Phoenix at New York, 7:30 p.m. - F4-6s
Chicago at Washington, 7:30 p.m. - W1-8s
Milwaukee at Miami, 7:30 p.m. - F1-24s
Charlotte at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. - G3-21s
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. - W3-3s  , WSBK,
       also on PrimeStar and Direct TV.
Vancouver at Minnesota, 8 p.m. - G6-15s
Dallas at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. - F1-10s
Houston at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. - F1-1s
Utah at LA Clippers, 10:30 p.m. - F1-21s

Boston (7-8) at Cleveland (8-6) 7:30 pm EST

 The Cleveland Cavaliers go after their fifth straight victory
tonight when they  take on the Boston Celtics in a battle
of Eastern Conference clubs.

 Wesley Person matched his career high with 33 points
as the Cavaliers snapped the Charlotte Hornets' five-game
winning streak with a 97-91 victory on Friday. Person has
been a scoring machine of late for the Cavs, averaging
26 points a game over his last four contests.

Cleveland rookie point guard Brevin Knight, who missed
Friday's game with a bruised right shoulder, is listed as
doubtful for tonight's game. Fellow rookie Derek Anderson
filled in for Knight on Friday and recorded 12 points and 14
assists.

Rookie Ron Mercer scored a career-high 26 points, but it
wasn't enough as the Celtics dropped a 112-108 overtime
decision to the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

The Celtics have struggled defensively in their last two
games, allowing an average of 115 points. Boston comes
into tonight's contest with a 2-3 mark away from home.


Cleveland beat Boston, 96-92, on November 7 at the
FleetCenter in  the  first  meeting of the season between
the two teams. The Cavaliers  won  two-of-three  from
the  Celtics  last  season.  The  Celts  have dominated
the all-time series, 85-45.

The Celtics dropped their second straight on  Friday,
a  112-108 overtime  defeat  at  the  hands of the Phoenix
Suns. Boston is 6-6 in  Eastern Conference games and 2-3
on the road this season. The  Celtics are 4-2 in meetings
with Central Division squads.

The Cavaliers extended their win streak to four games with
a  97-91  win  over Charlotte on Friday. Cleveland is 3-3 at
Gund Arena this  season and 7-4 in meetings against Eastern
Conference  opponents.  The Cavs have won four-of-six versus
the Atlantic Division.

Boston's last starting lineup
- ----------------------------------------
Name             Pos     Pts
- ----------------------------------------
Minor              F         4
Walker            F        27
Ellison             C         4
Edney             G         7
Mercer           G        26

Cleveland's last starting lineup
- -----------------------------------------
Name            Pos        Pts
- ----------------------------------------
Kemp             F            13
Henderson      F            12
Ilgauskas        C            15
Person           G            33
Anderson       G            12


*** NBA Matchup - Boston at Cleveland ***

(Saturday, November 29th - All Times Eastern)

Boston Celtics (7-8) at Cleveland Cavaliers (8-6), 7:30 p.m.
          ------------------------------------------------------------

1997-98 Head-to-head record - Cleveland 1-0
1996-97 Head-to-head record - Cleveland 2-1
1995-96 Head-to-head record - Cleveland 3-1
1994-95 Head-to-head record - Tied 2-2
Overall Head-to-head record - Boston 85-45
Home Record: Boston 5-5; Cleveland 3-3
Away Record: Boston 2-3; Cleveland 5-3
Record vs. Central Division: Boston 4-2;
Record vs. Atlantic Division: Cleveland 4-2;
Record vs. Eastern Conference: Boston 6-6; Cleveland 7-4

1997-98 Meetings
- ----------------
11/07 - Cleveland, 96-92 (at Bos)

Note - Cleveland has won 11 of the last 15 meetings.

Boston last five games
- ----------------------
11/19 - L at  New Jersey, 100-108
11/21 - W vs. New Jersey, 101-93
11/23 - W vs. Detroit, 90-86
11/26 - L vs. LA Lakers, 103-118
11/28 - L vs. Phoenix, 108-112 ot

Cleveland last five games
- -------------------------
11/19 - L vs. Orlando, 93-96 ot
11/21 - W at  Minnetsota, 103-80
11/22 - W vs. Washington, 110-101
11/26 - W at  Philadelphia, 95-89
11/28 - W at  Charlotte, 97-91

Boston's next game...
- ------------------------------------
Dec. 3  Wed.  Chicago @ Fleet Center  7:00 P.M.