Tip-off: 7 p.m. at Gund Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Net Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.

Injuries: Cavs - Jeff Trepagnier (knee) and Lamond Murray (nose) are out. Wizards - Hubert Davis (flu), Bobby Simmons (knee) and Christian Laettner (thigh) are out.

Notable: Michael Jordan torched the Cavs for 40 points last Thursday in Washington's 94-85 victory. . . . The Cavs and Wizards split the first two games. . . . The Cavs have won 6 of 7 against the Wizards and 16 of the last 20 meetings in Cleveland. . . . The Cavs trail, 74-81, in the all-time series. . . . The Cavs snapped their 12-game losing streak with a blowout victory over Minnesota on Tuesday.

Cavs guard Ricky Davis doesn't back down from anyone. Not even Michael Jordan.

Following the Cavs' loss to Washington last week, where Jordan scored 40 points, Davis said everyone's scared of Jordan, but he isn't.

Jordan said he knows the younger players all want to challenge him, and he doesn't have a problem with that.

"[Davis] shouldn't be scared," Jordan said. "If he is scared, then obviously I've won the game before it starts. I take on all kinds of challenges and he's no different. He's going to come at me at home, and I'll be there. I don't think I'm running away from any challenges."

Jordan and Davis will get the opportunity to run into each other and settle the rubber match tonight between the Cavs and Wizards at Gund Arena. The Cavs easily defeated the Wizards by 19 points here on Nov. 27.

Jordan struggled from the field (9-of-24) and finished with 18 points. Davis, on the other hand, was 9-of-14 from the field for 18 points.

It was a game where Jordan perceived Davis as rubbing it in by dunking several times late in the game.

Jordan also didn't appreciate some pregame comments from Davis about dunking on him if he got the opportunity.

Jordan responded with 40 points against the Cavs last week in a Wizards victory.

It was the 14th time Jordan has scored 40 or more points against the Cavs during the regular season, the most for him against any team. Following the game, Jordan said, "It was one of those things that you didn't want to see happen again, so the best way to do that was to get [Davis] in foul trouble and sit him down over there so he can watch us."

Apparently, Davis didn't like last week's view.

"[Jordan] told me that he remembered the [first] game," said Davis after the game. "We're going to remember this when they come back to our place. He got the win this time."

Time has the ability to change things, and it appears time has changed Davis. Or Davis has come to understand trash-talking with Jordan isn't always beneficial.

"I'm just ready to go out and play hard and try to get a victory because we're struggling right now," Davis said. "Forget about all that one-on-one stuff. We need a victory. Finding something to motivate him is what [Jordan] needs to get himself going. He looks for stuff like that. I'm not going to help him get motivated this time. As we all know, he can still do what he wants to do on the court and he can embarrass you."

Well, a kinder, gentler Davis won't help Bryant Stith tonight. Stith is expected to start and he'll have the responsibility of defending Jordan.

"It's too late now," said Stith about no more trash-talking. "The damage has been done. Michael Jordan has a very long memory. What we have to do now is try to withstand his barrage of offensive moves, because you know it's coming."

Cavs coach John Lucas has tried to be a mediator since Jordan's offensive spree. Lucas has been overly complimentary about Jordan. Stith, who'll be in the middle of the fire, hasn't taken Lucas' stance.

"I'm not going to try to soften him up," Stith said. "I'm kind of psyched for the challenge. I want to play when he's giving his best. It's something you can go back home and laugh about over the summer. Either you can be a hero or you can be a goat."

Going from a starter into a reserve role at the NBA All-Star Game could have been a little deflating for some guys.

Not for Orlando Magic guard Tracy McGrady. Not when he was replaced by Michael Jordan -- the best all-star of all time.

McGrady, who finished behind Allen Iverson and Jordan in the fan voting to determine the starters, was one of 14 reserves selected Tuesday by the respective all-star coaches.

It will be McGrady's second consecutive appearance at All-Star Weekend. The all-star game will be Feb. 10 in Philadelphia.

"It doesn't matter if I start or not. It's all the same. I'll be on the same court, participating in the same weekend," McGrady said after the Magic's practice Tuesday. "It will be an honor just to be in the same locker room with Michael."

Among those chosen to the East squad as reserves were first-time all-stars Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana), Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Atlanta) and Paul Pierce (Boston). As a starter last season, McGrady played 21 minutes and scored two points.

"Last year, I really didn't care about scoring, or any of that. I was just happy to be there," McGrady said. "We had guys like Iverson, [Vince] Carter, guys who really put the ball up. This year, hopefully, I'll get the chance to touch the ball five times and be on the court with Michael."

At best, Michael Jordan's comeback has been disappointing.
  The huge spike the NBA -- and NBC, for that matter -- anticipated has not taken place with the return of His Airness. Many thought Jordan, on a white horse and wearing a 10-gallon hat, was going to save the ailing league.
  It just hasn't happened.
  The TV ratings say so -- they've been better, but not great. The sales from products bearing his name agree -- his Palm Pilot was a big-time bomb. The Wizards aren't sold out for the season. And according to their Web site, plenty of tickets are still available. Worse, many fans seem only lukewarm when the talk is about Jordan.
  There was no Jordan buzz at The Buzz Barber Shop on Six Mile and Livernois, across the street from University of Detroit Mercy, on Tuesday.
  Since the Washington Wizards were about to play host to the Pistons on Tuesday night at the MCI Center, you would have expected discussion of, and praise for, Jordan. Instead, there was a full-fledged debate on whether Jordan should even be playing anymore.

In our glorious country, there are many places your face can be seen if you really make it big. You can be on billboards, you can be on postage stamps, you can be on the post office wall.

But there is one place that is bigger than all the rest:

On the cover of a supermarket scandal sheet.

And this week Michael Jordan has made it big time.

When it became known Juanita Jordan had filed for divorce from Michael -- aka "M. Jeff Jordan" as he was identified in the petition -- it was like throwing bloody meat into a shark tank. It's "feeding frenzy" time:

Globe -- Headline: "Michael Jordan's Secret Sex Life." This rag gets top points for making Jordan the main subject of the cover, edging "Boozer Kathleen Turner Falls on Her Face." We see Michael smoking a big cigar (Freudians take note), seemingly gazing down at the subheads that read: "The wild orgies -- the porn queen -- the video he does not want you to see."

The porn queen is Kylie Ireland, and she is in all the rags, speaking of a night of bliss she says she shared with Michael in 1993. She's hardly mean-spirited about it, pointing out he "has a good heart," along with other attributes, although she says nothing about his jump shot.

That video, incidentally, involves a Jordan lookalike.

The National Enquirer -- Headline: "Michael Jordan's Mistress Tells All." In this one, M.J. is placed at the top of the cover, giving up the No. 1 spot to "Hillary Catches Bill Cheating Again!" Too bad they couldn't have worked these two stories together. This happens to be a different mistress, but like the porn queen, she remains quite fond of Michael's game.

Star -- Headline: "Wife's Own Story." Also on the top of the cover, losing out to "Matt Perry Is Dad of Liz Hurley Baby." And guess what, another young lady speaks of how Jordan "lived up to his reputation." I assume she means he knows how to go to his right.

National Examiner -- Headline: Well, actually this rag practically ignores Jordan, deciding to go with "How Laura Bush Saved Her Wild Girls." But I did find this inside: "Russell Crowe's once-tight butt is now gluteus MAXIMUS. Since breaking up with Meg Ryan, the Gladiator porked up so much, Tinseltown bosses are begging him to put down the fork so can play a leading man, instead of The Blob."

See, now that's the kind of stuff inquiring minds want to know.

Weekly World News -- Headline: Again, nothing about Jordan, but I must share this with you: "Blimp to Lower World's Fattest Man into Super Bowl."

What I love about this story is that the Super Bowl is being played in the Superdome, which has a roof.

But make sure you check out Page 30 for "Devil Toaster Ruined My Life." Who can't relate to that?

Jordan and you!

You may know that Jordan is becoming more notorious in yet another way -- like Oprah and Rosie, he will have his own magazine -- Jordan -- hitting the stands Feb. 8. However, in next Thursday's Cheap Seats, we plan on giving you an unauthorized version of what the first issue might look like and the stories it might contain.

And this is interactive. Send me suggestions for headlines that we might expect to see in that first issue. And if you make me laugh or groan or cry, your suggestion will be mentioned here -- making you famous!

The address: jgreene@orlandosentinel.com. Do it now before you forget

You know I'm right

We are going to get the Super Bowl we want to see ? Rams and Steelers.

Oddly enough, however, the Pittsburgh Steelers are a bigger lock to beat the New England Patriots today than the St. Louis Rams are to take out the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles do have a puncher's chance in that QB Donovan McNabb is capable of making the big plays to keep them in the game. Over in Pittsburgh, Patriots' QB Tom Brady will not know how to cope with that Steeler D.

Sunday buffet: If the Minnesota Vikings are looking in the college ranks for an offensive coordinator, why not give a call to UCF's Mike Kruczek, the man who knows QB Daunte Culpepper better than anyone? ... And come on, Jerry Jones, don't be talking to Bruce Coslet for your Cowboys offensive coordinator job. Pick up the phone and hire Galen Hall. ... Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers hired Giants defensive coordinator John Fox to rescue their team from its 1-15 season. Says Giants DE Michael Strahan about Fox: ?He's the type of guy you'd cut off your arm for.? Maybe so, Michael, but that coaching style has had limited success. ... Marc ?The Freak? Loyd from ?Coach & Co.? on 740 the Team (WQTM) had a strong interview Thursday with the WWF to fill a ring-announcer opening. They may call him back for a second visit to see how well he takes a steel chair to the head.

Tyson's needs

Cheap Seats Investigations got its hands on a ?things to do? list for the guy who will make all the preparations for Mike Tyson's next news conference. Here are some of the items:

About 250 folding chairs.

Podium.

Tranquilizer dart gun.

Sound system.

Straitjacket, size XXL.

About 250 accidental death release forms.

Two pounds ground round.

Hannibal Lecter mask.

3 Questions

How can the suits in Nevada even think about giving Mike Tyson a license to cross the street? Oh right, they license prostitutes, don't they, so I guess anything goes.

Why doesn't the PGA Merchandise Show hang around for one extra day and let golf fanatics inside to spend a gazillion dollars on clubs and balls and shoes and anything else they can carry out?

Ooh wah, ooh wah ? ooh wah, ooh wah ? ooh wah, ooh wah ? Why do fools fall in love?

Drat! Darts

Who remembers lawn darts, the game that combined darts with horseshoes by throwing big, heavy darts that would plunk into the ground? It was banned in the United States in 1988 after 6,700 lawn-dart injuries were reported in the previous decade. However, word has it that there is still some illegal lawn-dart playing going on right here in Central Florida.

Pun warning!

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? He wanted to transcend dental medication.

Remember last week when 'Chicago Bulls management' dimmed the lights on the standing ovation for the return of Michael Jordan?  It turns out it wasn't Bulls management at all, with the decision coming from NBC who were broadcasting the game to the country.

"An NBA representative, taking a cue from NBC, decided how long of an ovation was enough and when to dim the lights," said Steve Schanwald, Chicago's vice president for operations. "If it was up to me, I would have let the ovation go on indefinitely until it burned itself out."

Washington

- Michael Jordan's memory of the Washington Wizards' loss to the Cavs in November didn't have much to do with the 19-point margin of victory.

His mind was focused on Cavs guard Ricky Davis.

"He was high-flying and dunking while they were up by 20 points [in a 94-75 win Nov. 27 in Cleveland] and those types of things don't go without being noticed," said Jordan about Davis. "It was one of those things that you didn't want to happen again, so the best way to do that was to get him in foul trouble and sit him down over there so he can watch us."

Davis and the Cavs received an eyeful.

Jordan avenged the Wizards' earlier loss to the Cavs, scoring 40 points during a 94-85 victory in front of a sellout crowd at the MCI Center last night.

Jordan became the second opponent to score 40 on the Cavaliers this season. Philadelphia's Allen Iverson scored 40 on Dec. 15.

Wes Person led the Cavs (13-29) with 19 points and Andre Miller had 11 points and 12 assists. Jumaine Jones added 13 points.

Despite Jordan's performance, Davis didn't back down.

"He told me that he remembered the last game," said Davis, who finished with seven points. "We're going to remember this when they come back to our place [next Thursday]. He got the win this time. Everyone's scared of him. I'm not. We need a win."

Desperately.

The Cavs' losing streak reached 11. It's the longest losing streak since the Cavs lost 11 during the 1990-91 season.

"We have to keep fighting and try to continue to improve," said Cavs coach John Lucas. "We have to find a way to win."

Person was on his way during the first quarter behind five straight jumpers. He was unstoppable. His last bucket of the quarter gave the Cavs a 24-19 lead. Person's 16 points during the period tied a team season high for most points in the first quarter. Jordan, however, was keeping pace, also scoring 16 first-quarter points.

The Wizards (20-20) poured water on Person's fire during the next three quarters. Person went scoreless during six minutes of the second quarter. Jordan, meanwhile, turned up the juice and his bucket with 27 seconds left before the half cut the Cavs' lead to 50-48.

The Cavs led by three early in the third but Jordan scored eight points during a 10-0 run for a 61-54 lead. A putback cut the Wizards' lead to five but Jordan had more answers. He started a run with a jumper followed by a pass underneath to Popeye Jones, who scored and was fouled. Jones nailed the free throw to complete the three-point play. Jones ended the 12-3 spurt with a layup for a 77-64 lead. Jumaine Jones' trey cut the Wizards' lead to 10 at the end of the quarter.

"We couldn't hit any of our shots during the third quarter," Lucas said. "We went from shooting 53 percent all the way down to somewhere in the 40s (42.9 for the game)."

A major factor was the Wizards' defense on Person.

"They paid more attention to me during the second half," Person said. "I saw a lot of different looks. When I was coming off screens they put different guys on me. I give them credit. They did a good job in the second half and I have to find a way to mature as a basketball player so when things happen like that again, I can find ways to make my shots."

The Wizards finished off the Cavs midway through the fourth. Jordan scored his last points on an alley-oop for a layup to give the Wizards an 86-74 lead with 5:32 left.

"Michael was outstanding," Lucas said. "We did a lot of things out of our help defense to try and make things difficult for him but he simply shot the ball extremely well."

Cavs at Wizards
When/where
7 tonight, MCI Center
TV/Radio
WUAB, Channel 43,
WAKR-AM 1590

Cavs (13-28) Starters

No. Player Pos. Ht. Pts. 33 Jumaine Jones F 6-8 10.9 8 Brian Skinner F 6-9 3.0 4 Chris Mihm C 7-0 9.8 1 Wesley Person G 6-6 13.5 24 Andre Miller G 6-2 15.9 Head coach: John Lucas Wizards (19-20) Starters No. Player Pos. Ht. Pts. 23 Michael Jordan F 6-6 24.1 54 Popeye Jones F 6-9 6.6 55 Jahidi White C 6-9 6.1 24 Hubert Davis G 6-5 9.1 12 Chris Whitney G 6-0 9.1 Head coach:
Doug Collins

Injuries
For the Cavs, C Michael Doleac (ankle), F Tyrone Hill (back) and F Lamond Murray (nose) are on the injured list. For the Wizards, G Courtney Alexander (ankle) and F Richard Hamilton (groin) are on the injured list.
Scouting Report
Jordan might be looking for revenge, considering his last outing against the Cavs. Jordan shot 9-of-24 for 18 points in a 94-75 loss Nov. 27 at Gund Arena. After the game, he said, ``We stink.'' . . . After leaving Cleveland, the Wizards played well, winning 15-of-19 games to get to 18-14. But they've since lost 6-of-7. . . . The Cavs, losers of 10 in a row, are trying to avoid their longest skid since dropping 11 in a row in 1990-91. . . . Wizards rookie center Brendan Haywood, originally drafted by the Cavs, is averaging 7.3 rebounds and 1.81 blocks.

NBA coaches have come up with a new wrinkle in attempting to contain aging icon Michael Jordan.

It goes like this: Let him run free to score virtually all the points he wants in the first half. Then hope he's so exhausted he doesn't have the energy to handle the increased defensive pressure applied in the second half.

Minnesota and Philadelphia were successful in sending the Wizards to losses. Cavaliers coach John Lucas won't tip his hand, but don't be surprised to see similar tactics employed tonight at the MCI Center in Washington.

"I'm just hoping that he doesn't score all their points," Lucas said.

In the first half of Washington's 105-101 loss to the Timberwolves, Jordan erupted for 22 points. In the second half, facing numerous zone-traps, he missed 13 of 15 shots and was held to seven points.

In the first half of Tuesday night's 91-84 loss in Philadelphia, Jordan hit 13 of 19 shots to score 28 points. Under some severe defensive pressure in the second half, he was held to two points - missing 7 of 8 shots from the field.

"They [the Sixers] really sacrificed their defense in the second half to take me out of the game," Jordan, 39, told reporters after the game. "I'm not surprised. Minnesota did it the night before."

Teams have had some success with this because Richard Hamilton, Washington's second-leading scorer, is out with a partially torn groin. "Right now," said Jordan, "they consider this to be a one-man team."

Getting closer:

Center/power forward Michael Doleac, who will miss his 30th straight game tonight recovering from a stress fracture of the left ankle, says he is close to being activated.

"My wind is not yet there," he said, "but I am very close to being in game shape. I have no problems with the ankle at all."

In 12 games before going down, Doleac averaged 7.2 points and 6.2 rebounds in 26.9 minutes. "We miss his toughness," said General Manager Jim Paxson.

Finally:

The Cavs are looking to end a 10-game losing streak. They have not lost 11 in a row since the 1990-91 season. . . . The Wizards have dropped six of seven. . . . Jordan is averaging 24.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 36.1 minutes a game. He's shooting 40.6 percent from the field and is no longer the 3-point threat he once was. From downtown, he's shooting 16.7 percent (7-of-42).

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that a team source said other teams are interested in acquiring centers Brendan Haywood and Jahidi White, and Hamilton but they won't be traded. There is little interest in Washington's other players, the source said, but that could change as the Feb. 21 trade deadline nears.

Though expectations for the Wizards rose with the team's early success, coach Doug Collins said the franchise would not make a knee-jerk trade to try to remedy the current trend. There is no need to disrupt the team's future plans to win a few games now, he said.

Though the Wizards have lost five of their last six games, they are not about to panic. Help could arrive tonight when talented but disappointing guard Courtney Alexander (sprained left ankle) could be activated off the injured list to face the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers (13-28), losers of 10 straight games.

Alexander has played in a team-low 16 games because of injuries and ineffectiveness. His pending return could provide some relief, although little production is expected from the offensively gifted leaper because he has weeks of rust to shed.