Utah (20-42) at Cleveland (33-27)
Preview - Box Score - Recap
Game Info: 7:00 pm EST Tue Mar 15, 2005
TV: KJZZ, FxOh Add to Calendar
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The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to put to rest any doubts about them making the playoffs.

The Cavaliers go for their first three-game win streak in more than two months when they host the struggling Utah Jazz.

Cleveland, which hasn't won three straight since opening January with a four-game run, lost six in a row from Feb. 25 through March 6 to go from a team fighting for a division le to one hoping just to make the playoffs.

The Cavs finally ended the skid last Tuesday with a 111-92 win over Orlando, then showed no ill effects of a four-day layoff in a 98-86 victory over Indiana on Sunday night.

``It showed us we weren't the team we thought we were,'' LeBron James said of the losing streak. ``It made us come out more focused. We got back to the basics. It's getting close to the playoffs, time to play complete basketball.''

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James led the way Sunday with 35 points, five rebounds and five assists while Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden combined for 29 points and 22 rebounds to help Cleveland improve to 2-1 on a four-game homestand.

The Cavs, who haven't made the playoffs since 1998, had a season-low five turnovers, held the Pacers to three field goals over the final 14:36 and just 15 points in the fourth quarter.

``We're fighting for seeds, fighting to win the division and fighting for home court,'' reserve point guard Eric Snow said. ``You've got to have a playoff mentality.''

Following Tuesday's matchup, the Cavs play six of their next nine on the road, where they haven't won since Jan. 22 at Golden State -- a span of seven games.

The Jazz saw their losing streak reach five games on Sunday as they opened a five-game road trip with an ugly 64-62 loss to Detroit.

It was the lowest-scoring game for each franchise, and the teams combined for an NBA record-low 18 points in the fourth quarter. The Pistons led 58-50 at the start of the fourth and went 0-for-15 from the floor in the period, but their six free throws were enough as Utah hit only four of its 20 field goal attempts.

``We kind of shot ourselves in the foot, especially late in the game,'' Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. ``That's just the way it goes sometimes.''

Andrei Kirilenko led all scorers with 27 points and Matt Harpring was the only other Utah player to score in double figures with 10.

``Andrei had a great game,'' Sloan said. ``I think he is really starting to step up and become the type of leader that we need.''

Kirilenko certainly can't be blamed for the five-game skid, averaging 21 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks during that span.

Carlos Boozer, who left the Cavs as a free agent in a controversial move during the offseason, has sat out the last 11 games with a foot injury and will not return to Cleveland for this contest. He will receive treatment in Salt Lake City and won't join the team on its five-game road trip, which also includes visits to Indiana, New Jersey and Washingto