Cavs try to stay hot in Charlotte

Cleveland is riding its longest winning streak of the season and recorded its eighth consecutive victory with Saturday’s 82-73 victory over the Utah Jazz at Quicken Loans Arena.

LeBron James posted 24 points, a season-high 17 rebounds and nine assists, as the Cavs pulled within 1 1/2 games of the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in both the Central Division and Eastern Conference playoff race.

Sasha Pavlovic scored 21 points for the Cavaliers, while Drew Gooden posted 14 points and 12 boards in the winning effort. Cleveland will now hit the road where it has won three in a row and owns a 15-17 mark this season.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats have dropped two straight and 10 of their last 12 games, including Saturday’s 97-91 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

Gerald Wallace posted 20 points and 13 rebounds for lowly Charlotte, which is second to last in the East. Playing without Sean May (knee), Emeka Okafor (calf), and Brevin Knight (groin), the Bobcats got a career-high 18 points from Walter Herrmann and 15 from Derek Anderson. May is questionable for Tuesday’s game against Cleveland.

Charlotte is back at home where it is 15-18 in 2006-07.

Tuesday’s game between Cleveland and Charlotte is the fourth and final meeting this season. The Cavs own a 2-1 mark in the series and have won nine of the 10 all-time meetings.

Cleveland has won four of the five encounters at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.