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Boozer returns to Cleveland as Jazz visit Cavaliers

Mar 17, 2007 - 3:59 PM Utah (43-22) at Cleveland (39-25) 7:30 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Carlos Boozer will probably not get a warm reception when he returns to Cleveland on Saturday.

Boozer returns to Cleveland for the first time since he left three years ago when the Utah Jazz play the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers expected Boozer to return after the 2003-04 season but he instead signed with the Jazz. He is averaging a career-high 21.0 points a game for Utah, which has lost three straight games including an 89-88 loss to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Boozer scored 14 points and Deron Williams had 18 for the Jazz, who have a comfortable 11 1/2-game lead over Denver in the Northwest Division. They are fourth in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind third-place San Antonio.

The Cavaliers trail first-place Detroit by two games in the tight Central Division and the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland has had two days of after rolling over Memphis, 118-96, on Wednesday. LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 29 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 18.

James' 27.4 points a game average is sixth in the NBA, but he was held to 23 points in a 99-98 loss at Utah on February 14.