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Cavaliers look to recover vs. Clippers after blowout loss

Jan 30, 2009 - 11:13 AM LA Clippers (10-35) at Cleveland (35-9) 7:30 p.m. EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Fresh off a disheartening loss to one of their prime foes for Eastern Conference supremacy, the Cleveland Cavaliers get the chance to immediately wipe that taste from their mouths on Friday night. The gods may be smiling on them - they get to play host to the lowly Los Angeles Clippers.

The Cavs, locked in a tight battle with the reigning champion Boston Celtics and the rising Orlando Magic, fell to the Magic in lopsided fashion on Thursday. After playing tight through three quarters, the Cavs surrendered a 20-2 run as Orlando took full control in the final session.

LeBron James posted 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, but shot just 10-of-27 from the floor.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Cleveland, which is still tied with Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers for the fewest losses in the league.

They face a Clippers squad that has won just twice in the month of January, losing its last three by a combined margin of 65 points. The Clips have recently welcomed the return of injured stars Baron Davis and Marcus Camby, but their presence hasn't made a difference just yet.

Davis' absence has opened up more opportunities for rookie guard Eric Gordon, who is averaging 21.4 points this month and shooting 91 percent (88-of-97) from the foul line in that span.