NBA Spurs slow LeBron; Cavaliers falling fast

Cleveland dropped 11/2 games behind Boston.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- First San Antonio, then Dallas.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' path toward the postseason has taken them on a tough trip through Texas.
LeBron James was held to only six points in the decisive first half -- one game after scoring a career-high 41 -- and the Spurs beat Cleveland 101-93 Monday night.
"The games mean so much more now -- you are really fighting for a playoff spot every night," said Cavs coach Paul Silas, whose team visits Dallas tonight. "Nobody is going to feel sorry for you at this time of the year."
The loss dropped Cleveland 11/2 games behind Boston, which defeated New Jersey on Monday, for the eighth and final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference.
Good defense against James -- who finished with 18 points -- was a key to Monday's win.
Bruce Bowen, the guy the Spurs put on their opponent's top perimeter scorer, limited Cleveland's rookie to 3-for-9 shooting before halftime.
By the time James kicked it into gear in the third quarter, San Antonio's lead was well into double digits. He then sat out the entire fourth.
Different story
Back in February, when Bowen got his first look at James, the 19-year-old scored 32 points in an 89-87 Cleveland win.
"The last time, my play wasn't really aggressive," said Bowen, who gives up a couple of inches and about 40 pounds in the matchup. "He's talented. I'm just doing what I do. I create havoc."
Bowen shadowed James all over the floor, bumping and poking and prodding him whenever the ball came his way. Asked afterward if he struggled, James said: "Eighteen points in three quarters -- I don't know if I'd really call that struggling."
Manu Ginobili, who spent part of the night guarding James, scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half. Tim Duncan added 18 points and Tony Parker had 14 for San Antonio, which shot 51.2 percent from the floor for its third consecutive win.
The Spurs led by as many as 23 early in the fourth quarter. Lee Nailon scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth for the Cavs, who outscored the Spurs 28-15 in the period. Zydrunas Ilgauskas matched James' 18 points.