• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cavaliers look to begin new streak against Timberwolves

Dec 17, 2008 - 11:18 AM Cleveland (20-4) at Minnesota (4-20) 8:00 p.m. EST

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- A brief hiccup is not about to slow down the scorching Cleveland Cavaliers.

After falling short of the longest win streak in franchise history, the Cavaliers look to begin a new surge on Wednesday when they visit the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves.

Following two losses in its first three games to start the season, Cleveland won 19 of its next 20 games and tied a team record by winning 11 in succession. It was the fifth time the team won 11 straight games in franchise history.

However, playing without Zydrunas Ilgauskas and reserve guard Daniel Gibson, the Cavaliers dropped a 97-92 decision to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

"You can't win them all," said LeBron James, who had 33 points. "We didn't expect to win every last game and go 79-3. ... We played hard, it was just a matter that they got more stops at the end than we did."

Gibson is expected to miss at least another week with a sprained left toe and Ilgauskas, who is listed as day-to-day, will likely miss the Timberwolves tilt with a sprained left ankle.

Cleveland should be able to overcome those absences against the Timberwolves, who have lost 11 consecutive contests, including a 118-103 setback to the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

Minnesota is looking to avoid its longest slide since dropping 12 in a row from April 2-23, 1993.