Wolves gameday

Last update: February 28, 2008 - 10:23 PM

Preview: Former Timberwolf Wally Szczerbiak, acquired last week from Seattle, will miss the game for the birth of his third child, scheduled to be delivered by Caesarean section Saturday in Long Island, N.Y. He has averaged 11.6 points and shot 29.2 percent (12-for- 41) in three games with the Cavs. ... The Cavaliers have beaten the Wolves four consecutive times, dating to a Wolves victory in Cleveland in November 2005. ... LeBron James has averaged 37.2 points in his past five games against the Wolves.

Player to watch: James is a given. So how 'bout big Ben Wallace, whose game suffered after he accepted a $60 million contract with Chicago. Now free of the expectations brought by that contract, he might thrive doing what he does best: defense and rebounding. Beside James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas in the Cavs' starting frontcourt, he has delivered games of six points and six rebounds, seven points and 11 rebounds and 12 points and 10 rebounds in his first three games with Cleveland.

Injuries: Wolves forward Craig Smith is expected to play despite a sore hamstring. Cavs guard Daniel Gibson, his team's best three-point shooter, is out four to six weeks because of a sprained ankle.

JERRY ZGODA

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