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Cavaliers hope to have James back

Dec 11, 2007 - 2:15 PM Indiana (10-10) at Cleveland (9-12) 7:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Life without their superstar has not been good for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The reigning Eastern Conference champions will look to snap a six-game losing streak when they host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

LeBron James has missed the last five games for the Cavaliers with a sprained left index finger. But after practicing Monday, James will be a game-time decision for this contest.

With or without James, the Cavs will try to avoid their longest losing streak since dropping eight in a row from November 19- December 3, 2003.

The Cavaliers have also not lost seven games in a row since losing eight straight from November 19-December 3, 2003.

The Cavaliers have averaged just 80.7 points during their skid. They are coming off a 96-93 setback to the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday.

The Pacers are coming off a 115-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday. Two days later, the Pacers had to deal with an off-the-court incident with point guard Jamaal Tinsley.

Tinsley escaped uninjured in a shooting outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel early Sunday. Police said the shooting targeted Tinsley and several of his companions following a confrontation as they were leaving the Cloud 9 club

While Tinsley was not harmed, Joey Qatato, who is the Pacers' equipment manager, was struck on both elbows as he sat with Tinsley in the player's Rolls Royce. Qatato was taken to Methodist Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Danny Granger leads six Pacers who average in double figures at 18.0 points per game. The 24-year-old is coming off a 27-point performance against Orlando.

Cleveland has won seven of the last eight meetings, including a 111-106 victory on November 25.