Cleveland Cavaliers Team Report - April 5

(Basketball News) - The Cavaliers will try to improve their tenuous playoff position tonight, when they tangle with the playoff hopeful New Jersey Nets at Gund Arena.

Cleveland snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday, registering a 100-80 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at Gund Arena. The Cavs sit in a tie for sixth in the East with Indiana, but they lose the tiebreaker as of now.

James finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists to pace the Cavs to the win. The second-year phenom finished the day 13-of-13 from the free throw line and went 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas netted 21 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for Cleveland. Ira Newble had 14 points and nine rebounds, while Drew Gooden had 13 rebounds in the win.

Point guard Eric Snow tallied eight points and three assists in 31 minutes of action. Snow has completely replaced former starter Jeff McInnis, who has played just nine minutes in the last two games.

The Cavs, who are closing out a three-game homestand tonight, are 27-10 in their friendly confines this season. Cleveland has won three of four and six of its last eight home games.

New Jersey has won two of three meetings between the teams this season, including consecutive victories. The Nets have won four of the last six meetings, but have lost consecutive trips to Cleveland.

The Cavs’ week won’t get any easier with trips to Indiana (Wednesday) and Philadelphia (Friday) on the docket. Cleveland will then finish up its week against Milwaukee at Gund Arena on Saturday.