NBA: Cavaliers at Suns: Nets at Bulls

Cavaliers at Suns

When Phoenix entertains Cleveland on Thursday in a potential NBA Finals preview it will be a matchup between the best defensive team in the East and the best offensive team on the planet.
The Suns have won seven straight, but have looked a little bit blas after a steady diet of cupcakes. Challenges against the Cavaliers and Orlando should prove a welcome wake up call.
Cleveland takes a trip to the West Coast in early January every year and nearly every year it proves to be a disaster. Since the turn of the century, the Cavaliers are 9-33 on their annual Western sojourn.

However, Cleveland started the trip on a high note Tuesday when it beat Sacramento for only the second time in seven visits to Arco Arena, 108-98. The Cavaliers have won five straight, eight of nine and four of their last five on the road. At one point they were 4-9 away from home, but they have passed four of their last five road tests.

Phoenix has won 14 of its last 15 at US Airways Center (9-5-1 against the spread). The Suns have won 11 of their last 14 versus Cleveland and hold a 35-9 edge in games played in Phoenix. They haven't lost a home game to the Cavaliers since 1998.

The last four series encounters have eclipsed the total with the teams combining to average 221 points per game. However, the Suns have slipped below the number in 13 of their last 16 outings, including six of eight at home.

Nets at Bulls

New Jersey and Chicago meet for the second time in less than a week in the first half of TNT's Thursday double-header.

The Nets nipped the Bulls at the Meadowlands last Friday as one-point underdogs, 91-86. New Jersey has won four of its last five and covered five straight. The Nets lost and failed in both visits to the United Center last season, but they have cashed eight of 11 versus Chicago overall.
The Bulls are playing back-to-back following a Wednesday workout at Washington - the Wizards won 113-103 as 4 ½-point home favorites. Chicago has covered four straight when playing without rest.

Four of the last six series confrontations have zipped over. New Jersey has dribbled under in 10 of its last 13 trips to the post and Chicago has followed suit in eight of its last 12 chances in the Windy City.