“It’ll be good to see some familiar faces – guys that I consider my family,” Hood said. “It’ll be good to talk a little trash and just have fun, but try to get a win also.”
The Cavs are in desperate need of a win. They haven’t won since December 18. Their seven game losing streak is the longest of the season and they have the worst record in the NBA.
“I think we’re fine,” Hood said when asked about the Cavs’ confidence. “We’re getting some guys back – myself and Tristan (Thompson). We’re trying to get some continuity. We’ve got a tough stretch coming up, having to go on the road for two weeks. We want to try to lock in on tonight’s game and the next couple at home and see where that leaves us.”
Hood had 13 points in his return on Wednesday night against Miami. He has dealt with a sore Achilles for multiple weeks and it caused him to miss four games in a row.
“I want to bust they ass, but it’s all fun and games,” Hood admitted on Wednesday. “We’re not in the same conference or nothing like that.”
Burks was “shocked” when the Jazz traded him to Cleveland on November 28. He had spent more than seven years in Utah and that’s all he knew.
“It’s a couple teammates I want to score on definitely,” Burks said. “That’s just because of the personal relationships I have with old teammates.”
Burks is averaging 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18 games with the Cavaliers. He’s playing more than he did in Utah, but his shooting percentage has dropped from 41 to 37 percent.
Former Cavalier Kyle Korver is averaging 8.9 points per game since joining Utah in November. He’s shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.
The last time these two teams played, the Cavaliers lost to the Jazz 104-101 in Utah on December 30, 2017. The Cavs beat the Jazz 109-100 two weeks prior, which is the last time they played at The Q.
Collin Sexton is averaging 12 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his last five games. The rookie has struggled recently, which is part of the reason why the Cavs have lost seven-straight games. Tristan Thompson and Hood are back in the lineup, which should help take some of the burden off of Sexton.