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Cavaliers likely to face shorthanded Celtics

Feb 5, 2008 - 2:50 PM Boston (36-8) at Cleveland (26-20) 7:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The strategy for the Cleveland Cavaliers isn't difficult to figure out this season. Just make sure LeBron James plays.

The Cavaliers face the Boston Celtics, owners of the NBA's best record, on Monday. It will be the second game back for James, who missed Cleveland's loss in Seattle on Thursday before scoring 28 points in a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

The Cavaliers are 0-6 this season without the services of James, who missed five games in late November and early December after spraining his left index finger. Cleveland was 9-3 during the previous two years when James was sidelined. The Cavaliers, 14-7 at home, are playing without Anderson Varejao (sprained left ankle) and Sasha Pavlovic (sprained left foot).

Boston hasn't played since Thursday's 96-90 home victory over Dallas. It was the third consecutive game for the Celtics without Kevin Garnett, sidelined with an abdominal strain. There is no timetable for his return.

"Any game we win without Kevin is important for us, part of our growth process," Celtics' coach Doc Rivers said. "Dallas is a team that we are still trying to catch, in our minds. They've been there. So when we play those types of teams, they're important."

The Celtics are 16-4 on the road. The teams have split the first two games in the four-game season series, each winning at home. James missed the second game of the season, played in Boston, after scoring 38 points in an overtime victory over the Celtics on November 27.