Led by LeBron James, the Cavaliers will try to improve to 14-0 at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday night when they host the Rockets.

Houston (19-9) looked strong on Monday, when it jumped out to a 16-point first-quarter lead and shot 58.1 percent from the field in a 114-91 rout of New Jersey. It was a strong response for the Rockets, who nearly blew an 18-point lead on Saturday but defeated lowly Minnesota 109-102.

After that game, Battier said, "Listen, the Boston Celtics are not giving that lead back. The Lakers are not giving that lead back. And Cleveland is not giving that lead back. Those are the three teams we're chasing right now and if we ever want to get on their level, we need to do what they do."

The Rockets have won six of their last seven and a season-high four in a row, but it could take them a while to pull even with the Cavaliers (23-4), who have put together the best start in franchise history.

Cleveland has won 22 of 24 since its 1-2 start, and is coming off a 3-1 road trip. Though they had their franchise record-tying 11-game win streak snapped in the opener, they bounced back by winning the last three games by an average of 17.0 points.

"We're playing great basketball. We've got a good team. We're second in the whole league in our record," James said after a 102-91 win over woeful Oklahoma City on Sunday. "We have to continue to get better, though. We can't look at the record and look at some of the standings and be content. We've got to continue to get better."

James scored at least 30 for the fourth straight game on Sunday, finishing with 31 and seven assists.

"LeBron is just LeBron. He has been marvelous this whole trip. He has been marvelous the whole year," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said.

Cleveland's success could be the reason behind James' recent admission that he'd consider re-signing with the Cavaliers at the end of this season, and forgo his first chance at being a free agent in 2010. It was the first time he mentioned that possibility publicly.

It also may be hard for James to leave Cleveland, where he's shooting 53.0 percent during the Cavaliers' longest undefeated home start in franchise history.

But that streak could be in jeopardy against the Rockets, who have won 11 straight road games against Eastern Conference opponents since losing in Boston on Jan. 2.

Houston's run includes a victory in Cleveland, where it's won four of its last five games. James had 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists against the Rockets on Feb. 19, but the Cavaliers shot 38.8 percent from the field in the 93-85 loss.

Rafer Alston led the Rockets with 22 points in that game, but the point guard could be sidelined for the fifth straight game on Tuesday because of a hamstring injury.

Aaron Brooks has fared well in Alston's absence, averaging 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in four consecutive starts. Now in his second season, Brooks matched a career high with 22 points on Monday.