Two days after failing to beat one of the league's worst teams even with LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers won't have their superstar in action Friday as they close a home-and-home series with the Philadelphia 76ers.

James injured his right big toe during a recent West Coast road trip and aggravated it in Wednesday's 118-115 double-overtime loss to Philadelphia.

The toe is still sore and the team doctor said a night of rest would help, Cleveland coach Mike Brown said after shootaround Friday.

"If it was a playoff game he could play," Brown said. "The doctor suggested it would be good to give him the additional rest. It's just sore."

James, the top vote getter for next month's All-Star game, is not expected to miss Sunday's home game against Phoenix.

Even James' season-high 39 points Wednesday were not enough for the slumping Cavaliers (24-18) to knock off the 76ers (13-30), who own the NBA's third-worst record.

Cleveland has lost five of six to fall one game behind Detroit for the Central Division lead and the best record in the Eastern Conference.

James is averaging 30.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.3 steals in his career against Philadelphia, but Cleveland is just 5-7 in those contests.

While the Cavs are the NBA's worst free-throw shooting team at 68.5 percent, the Sixers went 26-of-27 on their free throws Wednesday with Andre Iguodala making all 12 of his attempts en route to a career-high 34 points.

"I've been making a conscious effort, since the summer, to work on my free throws," said Iguodala, who is shooting 83.9 percent from the line this season after a career-best 75.4 mark in 2005-06. "I shoot 60 free throws every practice, so when it comes down to them in games and you're tired, it's a huge factor."

Philadelphia is 8-18 since Allen Iverson last appeared in a Sixers' uniform and 8-12 since trading him to Denver. Two of the Sixers' last three wins have come in overtime.

Sixers center Samuel Dalembert added a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the second OT Wednesday. He is averaging 14.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in his last 10 games.

These teams have split their first two matchups this season - both in Cleveland - but the Cavs have lost 14 of their last 17 visits to Philadelphia.