Cavs open road trip at Indiana

Cleveland, which is three games behind the Detroit Pistons in both the Central Division and Eastern Conference standings, has lost three of its last four games after an eight-game winning streak.

The Cavs suffered a 105-93 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena, as Zydrunas Ilgauskas led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds. LeBron James also netted 18 points and Larry Hughes added 17 for the Cavaliers, who will now hit the road to Indiana, New York, Chicago, Boston and Minnesota.

Cleveland is 15-18 away from home this season.

Indiana, meanwhile, will wrap up a three-game homestand tonight and has dropped three of four and 14 of its last 16 games. On Sunday the Pacers were handed a 92-90 loss by the Chicago Bulls at Conseco Fieldhouse. Bulls guard Ben Gordon was the hero with the game-winning jumper in the waning seconds.

Jermaine O’Neal posted 39 points and 14 boards for Indiana, which is 1-1 on the stand and 20-15 as the host this season. Mike Dunleavy scored 23 points in a losing cause.

Indiana is a half game behind New Jersey for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Tuesday’s showdown between Central Division rivals is the fourth and final meeting of the regular season. Cleveland leads the season series by a 2-1 count and has won five of six and six of the last nine meetings.

Cleveland has lost eight of its last nine trips to Conseco Fieldhouse.