Pregame: Mavericks at Cavs

Dallas Mavericks (14-10) at Cleveland Cavaliers (8-13)
Time: 7:30 p.m.; Venue: The Q; TV/Radio: Fox Sports Ohio/WTAM, WAKR, WHBC.
Cavs probables: PG Kyrie Irving (18.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 5.0 apg), SG Mychel Thompson (3.0, 1.0, 1.3), SF Omri Casspi (8.0, 3.0, 1.2), PF Antawn Jamison (14.9, 5.4, 1.6), C Anderson Varejao (10.5, 11.6, 1.7).
Mavericks probables: PG Rodrigue Beaubois (7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.4 apg), SG Vince Carter (11.0, 2.9, 2.4), SF Shawn Marion (12.2, 6.3, 1.9), PF Dirk Nowitzki (16.9, 6.0, 2.3), C Brendon Haywood (5.4, 6.9, 0.4).
Injuries: Cavs — Daniel Gibson (neck) out, Anthony Parker (back) out, Tristan Thompson (sprained left ankle) out; Mavericks — Jason Kidd (strained right calf) not with team; Sean Williams assigned to Texas Legends (D-League).
Officials: Monty McCuthen, Curtis Blair and Tre Maddox.

Notes
*The Cavs have lost their past two games and seven of their last nine. They suffered a 102-94 defeat on the road against the Orlando Magic on Friday night. In their loss to the Magic, the Cavs continued their recent trend of falling behind and rallying in the fourth quarter only to come up short.
*The Cavs will play in their sixth back-to-back of the season tonight. They're 1-4 in the second game of a back-to-back.
*The Mavericks have also lost their past two games, including a 98-87 defeat at home against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The Mavericks, though, are 6-2 this season while playing in the second game of a back-to-back..
*Gibson is expected to miss his fourth consecutive game with a soft tissue infection in his neck. Parker (back) is expected to sit out for the third game in a row, and Tristan Thompson (sprained left ankle) is expected to be sidelined for the second in a row.
*With Gibson and Parker ailing, undrafted rookie Mychel Thompson is in line to make his third start in as many games. In his first career start, Mychel Thompson finished with eight points and four assists and shot 2-4 (.500) from three-point range in 31 minutes. He didn't fare as well in his second start, going scoreless (0-of-6 from the field) with an assist and a turnover in 30 minutes.
*Alonzo Gee led the Cavs in scoring Friday against the Magic with a career-high 20 points (7-of-12 from the field) in 31 minutes off the bench. In the Cavs' past three games, Gee is averaging 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field.
*Irving had 18 points, four rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes against the Magic, but he struggled from the field, shooting 7-of-21.
*Cavs coach Byron Scott realizes the Mavericks became fan favorites in Cleveland when they defeated LeBron James and the Miami Heat for the NBA title last year. However, Scott doesn't want to hear cheers for the Mavericks tonight at the Q. “I don’t want them cheering for the Dallas Mavericks,” Scott said earlier this week. “This is our home. I understand how a lot of fans here feel about Dallas winning, but that was in June. That was seven months ago. That’s over with. It’s a new season. When they come here, you might have one player that a lot of fans cheer for, but as a team, do not cheer for the Dallas Mavericks.”