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Cavs hope to end slide against Lakers

Jan 15, 2015 - 3:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - LeBron James and the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers will resume a five-game road trip Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

The Cavaliers have lost six in a row and 10 of the last 12 games, and are coming off Tuesday's 107-100 setback to the Phoenix Suns. James returned from an eight-game absence (1-7) to score 33 points and J.R. Smith added 29.

"Yesterday at practice my lungs were burning and I guess I was able to get my second wind today," said James. "I couldn't make those moves two weeks ago. To come back and feel the way I like to feel was pretty cool."

Tristan Thompson scored 10 points off the bench for Cleveland, which shot 43.9 percent and received a combined 18 points from Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving.

Cleveland is 8-11 on the road and has lost four straight as the guest. It will play the Clippers Friday night.

The Lakers have dropped two in a row and four of their last five games, and suffered a 78-75 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Kobe Bryant, Jordan Hill and Ed Davis scored 12 points apiece for Los Angeles, which shot just 31.5 percent and fell to 6-14 at home. The Lakers scored only 12 points in the first quarter and 34 in the first half.

"We got off to a terrible start, offensively and defensively," Lakers coach Byron Scott said. "We dug ourselves a hole."

Bryant (rest) is questionable for this matchup versus James and the Cavs.

After hosting the Cavs, the Lakers will play four in a row on the road against Utah, Phoenix, New Orleans and San Antonio.

Hill (knee) is probable against Cleveland.

The Lakers and Cavs will play the first of two meetings this season and are scheduled to tangle Feb. 8 at Quicken Loans Arena. The two teams split a pair of matchups last season and have alternated wins and losses over the past eight encounters.