Cavs, Sixers play first of home-and-home set

The Sixers will host the Cavaliers on Friday at the Wachovia Center.

Cleveland has lost five of its last seven games, including Monday’s 90-79 loss to the Orlando Magic. LeBron James finished with 18 points and five assists, but was just 6-of-15 from the floor for Cleveland, which is tied with Detroit atop the Central standings.

Damon Jones and Larry Hughes both scored 16 points, while Hughes added seven assists in a losing effort. Cleveland is 15-4 at home this season.

Philadelphia tries to win back-to-back games for the first time in 2007. Kyle Korver scored a game-high 25 points and Andre Miller contributed 17 points and dished out 11 assists as the 76ers defeated the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 102-96, on Tuesday at the Wachovia Center.

Andre Iguodala ended with 20 points and six assists in the win over the Hornets for Philadelphia, which won for just the second time in six games and third in its last 11 games overall. Rodney Carney finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while Samuel Dalembert netted 10 and pulled down seven boards in the victory.

The Sixers are a brutal 5-20 on the road this season.

Wednesday’s game between Cleveland and Philly is the second of four meetings this season. The Cavs posted a 108-95 win at home on November 25 this season, but the 76ers have won six of the last nine meetings.

Philadelphia has lost four of its last six at Cleveland.