(Sports Network) - Cleveland Cavaliers second-year point guard Kyrie Irving
was selected as a first-time All-Star and has been playing like one lately.
Irving and the Cavaliers look to stay on the right path when they host the
Central Division-rival Milwaukee Bucks Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Irving, who is averaging 23.7 ppg, is coming off a 40-point performance in
Tuesday's 95-90 triumph over the Boston Celtics. Irving made 16-of-24 shots,
handed out five assists and grabbed three rebounds for the Cavs, winners in
two of their last three games.
"It just came in the flow," Irving said of his performance. "I did have the
mindset that I was going to come out aggressive, but more or less just see
what happens. I made shots and guys kept feeding me."
Tristan Thompson finished with 21 points and nine rebounds in the win.
Cleveland is just 5-12 at home this season.
Milwaukee will try to extend its winning streak to a season high-tying four
games when it pays a visit to the Forest City.
The Bucks posted their third win in a row with Tuesday's 110-102 victory
versus the Philadelphia 76ers as Ersan Ilyasova scored 27 points and pulled
down 16 rebounds. Brandon Jennings had 25 points and seven assists in the
Bucks' sixth win in the last eight tries.
"A lot of guys really contributed tonight," said Bucks interim coach Jim
Boylan. "Brandon was outstanding, Monta (Ellis) had a double-double and Ersan
had one of his games again for us. That is a good sign for us."
Ilyasova has scored a season-high 27 points in each of the last two games,
while Ellis had 18 points and 10 assists. Ilyasova is the first Bucks player
to go for at least 27 and 14 in consecutive games since Vin Baker in 1995.
The Bucks shot 51.9 percent against the Sixers and have scored 100-plus points
in five of eight games under Boylan. They are 12-3 on the season when reaching
that total.
Milwaukee just went 3-1 on a recent road trip and is 11-9 away from the
Bradley Center. In injury news, Bucks guard Marquis Daniels (illness) is
questionable for Friday.
Milwaukee has won two of three meetings with Cleveland so far this season and
is 10-3 in the previous 13 encounters with the Cavaliers. The Bucks have won
four in a row at Quicken Loans Arena, too.
The Sports Network