Cavaliers coach John Lucas expects forward Lamond Murray, who has missed
the past three games with a strained lower back, to return to the starting lineup Wednesday against Golden State. ``I would be really surprised if he doesn't play,'' said Lucas, who plans to return Ricky Davis to the bench. The Cavs yesterday lifted weights and did some light shooting. Murray stayed afterward to play some two-on-two games. His back hardly looked to bother him when he threw down a few dunks. Murray will have a full practice for the first time today since suffering the injury Dec. 22. ``I'll have to see how I do with contact, if I get hit in the back,'' he said. Murray said the back is still ``a little stiff,'' but he expects to play against the Warriors. Murray, from the San Francisco Bay area, has averaged 27 points in his past three games against Golden State.
BENCH BLUES -- Lucas is not pleased with the recent play of his bench. In Friday's 98-88 win over New York, the reserves were outscored 24-13. In Saturday's 103-83 loss at Chicago, the bench was outscored 49-23. In the first half, when the game was still in doubt, reserves were outscored 21-6. ``I'm very concerned,'' Lucas said. ``I need to get a steady rotation and a steady diet of knowing I'm going to get something every night.'' Murray's injury led to the bench being weakened in recent games, but Lucas doesn't want that to be used as an excuse. ``We have to come out with more energy,'' reserve point guard Bimbo Coles said.

SECOND-CITY STRUGGLES -- With Bill Cartwright coaching his first game, Lucas said it was a difficult time for the Cavs to face the Bulls. ``We walked into a lion's den,'' Lucas said. ``It was kind of a set-up. I'm sure they named (Cartwright) the day before a home game they thought they could win so they could get a bang out of it. Everybody cheered him when he walked into the arena.'' The win broke an eight-game losing streak for the Bulls, who still have the NBA's worst record at 5-23.

DIOP'S DOINGS -- Lucas said one of the few bright spots Saturday was the play of 7-foot rookie center DeSagana Diop. Playing 15 minutes, the same amount he played in his first four career games combined, Diop shot 2-of-4 for four points and had five rebounds. ``I like his length,'' Lucas said. ``He gave us a physical presence.'' With Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler playing for Chicago, it marked the first time that three rookies drafted straight from high school had appeared in the same NBA game.