C.J. Miles News

INDEPENDENCE - First, Kyrie Irving was ill. Now, the Cavaliers point guard is healthy, but sick and tired of answering questions about the team's playoff chances.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- With the Mid-American Conference men's and women's basketball tournaments coming to Quicken Loans Arena this week, the Cleveland Cavaliers will play their next three games on the road, and there is plenty on the line as they head West.

Bennett underwent an MRI on Sunday that showed a strain to his left patellar tendon.

Feb 11, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Anthony Bennett after a 109-99 win against the Sacramento Kings at Quicken Loans Arena.

This weekend was a real punch to the gut for the Cavaliers. Facing the 7th seed Charlotte Bobcats , and the 10th seed New York Knicks -- they lost two close and winnable games.

On paper, you could say the Cleveland Cavaliers have improved this season. They've matched their previous win total, 24, with 18 games remaining on the schedule.

Still, the Cavaliers sit just three and a half games back of the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Al Jefferson scored 28 points, Kemba Walker had 20 points and 14 assists, and the Charlotte Bobcats defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-92 Friday night for their sixth straight win at home.

From 2005 to 2010 this was a team with serious playoff aspirations. Draft picks were dealt for veteran help, and all available cap dollars were spent trying to field a championship team.

Jan 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao reacts in the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena.

If the Charlotte Bobcats do hold on to earn the second playoff berth in the franchise's 10-year history, they won't face a tougher four-game stretch than the one they just finished.

Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters has returned after missing seven games with a knee injury, giving the club a key component for its playoff push.

The last time we saw Dion Waiters play basketball he was dunking on Spencer Hawes .

Riding a six-game winning streak, he opted instead to add starting-caliber insurance for injured center Anderson Few would argue that a guy like Hawes elevates a team from mediocrity to playoff quality - his career averages are just 9.5 points and 6.4 rebounds, after all.

Upside, upside, upside. Regardless of their postseason destiny, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking toward the offseason with an eye for upside.

The Cavaliers are going to have their hands full Tuesday night at The Q when they take on a San Antonio Spurs team that is getting its key pieces back.

Cleveland forward Anthony Bennett missed the Cavaliers' game against Utah on Friday night because of a sore right knee, adding to the team's long list of injuries.

On the night he got his first career triple-double, Kyrie Irving finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists and one "I love you."

Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 15 rebounds, while C.J. Miles and Dion Waiters each scored 17 to help the Cavs win their first road game since a 109-100 victory in Orlando on Dec. 13. Playing without leading scorer Gordon Hayward, sidelined by a strained hip, the Jazz were paced by Richard Jefferson's 18 points.

The Cavaliers recently had a six game win streak that piqued the interest of much of the league.