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Cavs put perfect home mark on the line vs. Rockets

Dec 23, 2008 - 11:13 AM Houston (19-9) at Cleveland (23-4), 7:00pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers return home Tuesday after a week on the road. With the surging Houston Rockets coming to town, the Cavs are looking to keep their perfect home record intact.

A pair of clubs look to extend their respective winning streaks as Houston hosts Cleveland. The Cavs have recovered from their only loss in the last month - a 97-92 defeat against Atlanta on December 13 - with three straight victories, while the Rockets are riding a modest four-game streak.

The Cavaliers remain the only team in the league without a home loss - though the Rockets did pull it off last season. Rafer Alston scored 22 points and Yao Ming added 16 and 14 boards as Houston survived LeBron James' triple-double for a 93-85 victory in March - part of the Rockets' 22-game win streak.

Alston has been sidelined recently by a strained right hamstring that has kept him out the last four games. He is expected to be back in the lineup against Cleveland - but either way, the Rockets have been surviving without him. Second-year backup Aaron Brooks has done an admirable job filling in and tied a career high with 22 points Monday to lead the Rockets to a 114-91 rout of the New Jersey Nets.

The Cavaliers recently capped off their 3-1 road trip with a 102-91 triumph over Oklahoma City thanks to James' 31-point effort - his fourth straight game with at least 30 points.