Cavaliers vs Hawks: LeBron James to miss game with knee soreness

LeBron James is the signature, "big ticket" item in the NBA, but some fans in Philips Arena will be disappointed on Tuesday evening, as he will be sidelined when the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Atlanta Hawks.

James will be sidelined with what the team is calling knee soreness, and Shawn Marion (ankle) will join him on the sidelines. Coincidentally, December 30 marks the 30th birthday for LeBron, who was considered questionable to play in the game as recently as Tuesday afternoon by some outlets.

Without him, the Cleveland Cavaliers are still a potent punch, with the high-octane duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love capable of putting up big offensive numbers. Still, this is obviously a huge swing point in the game, and the Atlanta Hawks would theoretically take on a role as a significant favorite without the game's best player available.

DeMarre Carroll will almost certainly be disappointed at the lack of opportunity to match up with James, but otherwise, this is likely good news for the prospects of the Atlanta Hawks grabbing a victory. Stay tuned.