Pregame: Cavs at Lakers

Cleveland Cavaliers (8-29) at Los Angeles Lakers (27-11)
Time: 10:30 p.m., Venue: Staples Center, TV/Radio: FS Ohio/WAKR
Cavs probable starters: PG Mo Williams, SG Manny Harris, SF Antawn Jamison, PF J.J. Hickson, C Ryan Hollins
Lakers probable starters: PG Derek Fisher, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Ron Artest, PF Pau Gasol, C Andrew Bynum
Officials: Ron Garretson, Marat Kogut, Olandis Poole
Injury report: Anderson Varejao (ankle) out, Daniel Gibson (ankle) out, Joey Graham (quad) out, Anthony Parker (back) doubtful, Christian Eyenga (ankle) questionable; Lakers: Matt Barnes (knee) out, Steve Blake (ankle) probable, Andrew Bynum (knee) probable.

Notes
* Byron Scott is going with a big lineup tonight, whether or not Christian Eyenga can play. Scott is starting all the bigs he can find to combat 7-footers like Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. The problem with starting Antawn Jamison at small forward is his defensive problems, but Ron Artest isn't really an explosive scorer anymore.

* The downside is taking J.J. Hickson out of the middle after he played so well there against Phoenix. Hickson tends to get lost sometimes around the perimeter. This should only be for one game, though, and Hickson should be right back in the middle Friday at Utah.

* Eyenga was out of the walking boot today, just as he predicted, but Scott still thinks he's a longshot to play. So is Anthony Parker, who is getting frustrated because he sees so little improvement in his back. He thought he turned a corner Saturday because it was starting to feel better, but then when he woke up Sunday it was right back to how he felt Thursday and Friday. That's how it is with tricky back injuries.

* It will be interesting to watch the interaction between Kobe Bryant and Manny Harris tonight. Scott said if Bryant respects the rookie, if Harris is physical with him and doesn't back down, he'll give him a pat and let Harris know it during the second or third quarters. But if he totally ignores him, that means Kobe is having his way with him. "I hope there's conversation, but I don't want it to be where Manny is pi----g him off, either. Because I've seen that happen, too, and (Bryant) goes for big, big numbers."

* Scott is enjoying his week in Los Angeles. He had lunch with his daughter on Monday and has extended this trip as long as possible. The Cavs arrived right after their game Sunday and won't leave here until after practice on Thursday. The Cavs are practicing on the UCLA campus, adjacent to Pauley Pavilion and across from the John Wooden Center.

* It's a homecoming for Ryan Hollins, who played at UCLA. He wandered around campus on Monay, saying hello to old friends and contacts.