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#CavsKnicks Game Preview - February 23, 2017

Game Summary

The Cavaliers return from the All-Star break to take on the New York Knicks on Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Tipoff is at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

The Cavs are an NBA-best 7-1 (.875) in the month of February, and as they get set to begin the unofficial second half of the season, Cleveland has the best record in the Eastern Conference at 39-16 (.709).

Wine Jersey

CAVS TO DON ALT WINE JERSEYS.
From where to catch all the action to Thursday's game notes, Cavs.com has you covered.

NBA on TNT

WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 FM La Mega

Joe G. has your five keys to a victory.

Learn more about Thursday's matchup.

Get into the conversation with other die-hards.

In their eight games in February, the Wine and Gold are averaging 121.4 points on a .516 clip from the field (.436 3FG%) and has posted a shooting percentage of .500 or better five times. The Cavaliers have also knocked down at least 15 three-pointers six times in February.

Cleveland has won five straight games at The Q and owns the 2nd-best home record in NBA at 24-5 (.828). During their five-game home winning streak, the Cavs are averaging 118.8 points on .508 shooting from the field (.404 3FG%) and are winning by an average margin of 15.4 points (118.8-103.4). They have also won 43 straight home games when shooting at least .500 from the field (12-0 this season).

The Cavaliers have scored at least 110 points in three straight games and in seven of the last eight contests. Cleveland is 29-3 on the season when they eclipse the 110-point mark.

The Wine and Gold aim to pick up right where they left off before the Break as they welcome a squad they have dominated as of late winning nine straight over the Knicks. Furthermore, the Cavaliers are a perfect 13-0 against the Atlantic Division this season (3-0 vs. TOR, 2-0 vs. PHI, 3-0 vs. NYK, 2-0 vs. BOS, 3-0 vs. BKN).

After beginning the season strong, New York has struggled over the last few months and enter Thursday's contest with a 23-34 record.

The Knicks are once again led in scoring by Carmelo Anthony at 23.4 points per game. Anthony, along with frontcourt mate, Kristaps Porzingis, spearhead New York's attack. Porzingis comes into Thursday's showdown averaging career-highs in points at 18.3 and rebounds with 7.1 per game.

Where to Catch the Action

TV: NBA on TNT

Radio: WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 La Mega

For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike and @chones22 on Twitter.

Probable Starters/Status Update*

#2 - Kyrie Irving

#4 - Iman Shumpert

#23 - LeBron James

#8 - Channing Frye

#13 - Tristan Thompson

G

G

F

F

C

#25 Derrick Rose

#5 - Courtney Lee

#7 - Carmelo Anthony

#6 - Kristaps Porzingis

#14 - Willy Hernangomez

Status Update: (Cavs) - J.R. Smith, (Right Thumb Fracture, Out), Kevin Love, (Left Knee Arthroscopy, Out)

Status Update: (Knicks) - Joakim Noah, (Sore Left Hamstring, Out)

*Subject to change.

Knocking off the Knicks

Cleveland is 3-0 against New York in 2016-17 and will go for the series sweep for the second year in a row.

Overall, Cleveland has won nine straight games over New York, limiting them to less than 90 points in six of those contests. The Cavs have outscored the Knicks by an average of 14.0 points (103.2-89.2), holding them to a combined .398 shooting from field in the last nine games.

In three games against the Knicks this season, the Cavaliers are averaging 118.0 points on .484 shooting and 24.7 assists. Their average margin of victory over New York has been 22.7 points (118.0-95.3) through three meetings in 2016-17.

This will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season.

On Deck

The Wine and Gold return following All-Star Weekend and don’t leave Cleveland for the rest of the month – welcoming the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night before closing out February with a meeting against the Milwaukee Bucks on the following Monday. FIND SEATS | VIEW FULL SCHEDULE