Pregame: Cavs at Blazers

Cleveland Cavaliers (13-53) at Portland Trail Blazers (38-29)
Time: 10 p.m.; Venue: Rose Garden; TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WAKR

Cavs probables: PG Ramon Sessions, SG Anthony Parker, SF Alonzo Gee, PF Samardo Samuels, C J.J. Hickson
Blazers probables: PG Andre Miller, SG Wes Mathews, SF Nicolas Batum, PF Gerald Wallace, C LaMarcus Aldridge
Officials: Steve Javie, Kane Fitzgerald, David Jones
Injury report: Cavs -- Anderson Varejao (ankle) out, Antawn Jamison (pinky) out, Semih Erden (groin) doubtful, Baron Davis (bereavement) probable; Blazers -- Greg Oden (knee) out, Elliot Williams (knee) out.
By the numbers: Cavs forward Samardo Samuels is averaging 14 points and 7.3 rebounds in seven games since replacing Antawn Jamison in the starting lineup. ... Ramon Sessions went 7 of 8 from the floor in the second half, all on drives to the basket, in Wednesday’s win over the Kings. ... Portland’s Brandon Roy is averaging 18.5 points in his last two games and is rounding back into form following chronic knee problems this season.

Notes
* Baron Davis is expected to rejoin the team tonight. Whether or not he'll play depends on his mental state. If he feels like he's ready to go, coach Byron Scott said there's no reason he won't play.

* The Cavs did a tremendous job of attacking the basket in the second half Wednesday night and need to keep that mentality to be successful. The Blazers are a much better defensive team than the Cavs, but they don't have the size advantage the Kings enjoyed.

* Blazers coach Nate McMillan is starting Gerald Wallace at power forward now, the same Wallace the Cavs had a little interest in around the trade deadline. Wallace is 6-foot-7 and a natural power forward, but McMillan likes LaMarcus Aldridge at center because of the room it creates for him in the post. Aldridge had 30 points in a win over the Mavericks the other night in his first start at center.

* McMillan believes the quicker lineup will also help in trapping opponents, which isn't good news for the Cavs. They have struggled handling the ball at times this season, but if they get Davis back, that should help.