Cavs return home to host Bobcats

Feb 2, 2007, 16:50 GMT

(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Cavaliers got back LeBron James on Thursday, and now they will try to get back in the win column tonight when they kick off a five-game homestand against the Charlotte Bobcats at Quicken Loans Arena.

James had missed two of Cleveland's last three games due to a sprained right big toe and struggled in his return to the court. He shot just 6-of-18 from the floor for 17 points and ended 3-of-8 from the free throw line as the Cavaliers were bested by the Miami Heat, 92-89.

James also missed a a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game.

Daniel Gibson had a career-high 19 points for the Cavaliers, who have lost seven of their last 10 contests. They've also lost eight in a row at Miami.

Cleveland will now return to Quicken Loans Arena, where they are 16-6. The Cavs sit fifth overall in the East, and are a game back of Detroit for the lead in the Central.

The Cavaliers will have a chance to make up ground on Detroit, as they will host the Pistons on their current homestand. The club will also get visits from the Clippers, Heat and Lakers.

Charlotte, meanwhile, will try to match their season long win streak. The club comes into the game with two straight victories, having most recently knocked off the New York Knicks, 104-87.

The Bobcats hammered the Knicks behind a career-high 42 points from Gerald Wallace, who shot 14-of-22 from the field. The 42-point performance broke a franchise record for most points in a game, which Wallace previously held at 41 points and set on March 28 against Atlanta.

Charlotte won three games in row on January 10-13. They bested the Knicks during that burst as well.

Raymond Felton added 16 points as the Bobcats won for the sixth time in their last eight games.

The injury bug resurfaced in Charlotte, however, as the club announced before the game that forward Sean May remains out indefinitely with a bone bruise in his right knee. The Bobcats also said that Othella Harrington will undergo surgery on his left knee and miss three-to-six weeks.

May is averaging 11.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game through 32 contests, while Harrington has played in just 21 games this season.

The Bobcats are already without guard Brevin Knight (abdominal surgery).

Charlotte is 8-14 on the road this season and returns home Saturday to host the Golden State Warriors.

The Bobcats have had limited success so far in their history against the Cavaliers, who have won eight of their nine all-time meetings with Charlotte. The Cavs have scored at least 100 points in seven of those matchups.

Charlotte has never bested the Cavs in Cleveland in four trips, including a 104-101 setback on December 13 at Quicken Loans Arena.

© 2007 The Sports Network