NBA Cavs silence sinking Sonics

Cleveland handed Seattle its fifth straight loss, 87-79.
SEATTLE (AP) -- Rashard Lewis was nowhere to be found after the Seattle SuperSonics lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In December, after the Sonics topped the Cavaliers by 13 points, Lewis said that he "didn't want to get overly excited because it was only the Cleveland Cavaliers."
Those same Cavaliers, losers of eight of their previous 10 games and 15 straight to the Sonics, handed Seattle its fifth consecutive loss 87-79 Sunday night. Lewis had 17 points.
"Their team is struggling," Cavaliers coach John Lucas said. "We played great defense in the fourth quarter and it was a good win for us."
Since Lewis' remarks, Seattle is 2-9.
Strong performances
Ricky Davis made his first six shots and finished with 22 points for a Cleveland team that holds the league's worst record at 8-30. Jumaine Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Cavaliers trailed 71-66 to open the fourth quarter, but regained the lead at 74-73 on a jumper by Jumaine Jones from the top of the key with 7:30 to play.
Cleveland then led 81-77 with 25.6 seconds remaining, and outscored the Sonics 7-2 the rest of the way, capped by spectacular dunks by Smush Parker and Davis.
The Sonics matched a franchise record for fewest points in a quarter, scoring only eight in the fourth on 3-of-14 shooting.
"It was bad tonight," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "Eight points in the fourth. When you've had the game in control, it's just a matter of executing your offense, playing some defense and getting some stops. And we didn't do that again."
Gary Payton led Seattle with 21 points.
Active center
Jerome James, making just his second start of the season after missing 27 games with an injured foot, was active in the paint for the Sonics. The 7-foot-1 center scored nine points and blocked four shots but missed all four of his shots in the final quarter.
Cleveland outrebounded Seattle 48-37. The last time the two teams played, the Sonics held the rebounding edge by 13 and Reggie Evans had 17. Seattle placed Evans on injured reserve Tuesday with a sprained right shoulder. Lucas noticed the difference.
"Their Evans guy killed us on the glass the last time," Lucas said. "He didn't get a chance to play this time, and we just shot the ball and played better tonight than we have played in a long time."
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