Cavs get easy win against Bobcats

LeBron James had 30 points in only three quarters in the 103-91 victory.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Soaring after an impressive win over Phoenix, the Cleveland Cavaliers weren't about to come crashing back down against the lowly Charlotte Bobcats.
LeBron James scored 30 points in only three quarters to lead the Cavaliers to a 103-91 victory over the gimpy Bobcats on Monday night. It was Cleveland's sixth straight win, four of which came on the road -- the most since the Cavs' won five straight away games in April 1998.
"One of the things I pointed out to the guys was that it was a good win against Phoenix, but if we turn around and go to Charlotte and lose that ball game, then beating Phoenix the night before doesn't really mean anything," coach Mike Brown said. "Our guys were focused enough to come into the building and get a W."
Charlotte drops 12th straight
The Cavaliers improved to 5-0 against the Bobcats and extended Charlotte's franchise record losing streak to 12 games. The Bobcats have not won a game since a double overtime win against Houston on Jan. 10.
"The reality is the teams we are playing are better basketball teams than we are," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "I do think with all our components, we'd be a pretty good basketball team. I have no reservations about that."
James, who scored 44 in Sunday's win over Phoenix, continued his trend of improving every time he plays against the Bobcats. In all five meetings, he's steadily increased his scoring from 19 points in the first game to 30 this time out.
"This was an important game," James said. "We didn't want to win a big game like we did yesterday, and come in here and not play as well as we can. We took care of business early, got a big lead and just extended it."
Declines dunk contest
James shot 11-of-19, including an alley-oop dunk from Eric Snow that warmed the crowd up and a third-quarter reverse dunk on a breakaway that brought the fans to their feet. Earlier Monday, James said he declined the NBA's request to participate in the All-Star dunk contest.
James, who will compete in the All-Star skills challenge, said he's not a good enough dunker to put on a show.
"I don't predetermine what I'm going to do," he said. "That's why I'm not a good dunk participant. I don't know what I'm going to do until I jump."
With Cleveland leading 83-57 at the end of the third quarter, James pulled on a blue T-shirt and settled in on the bench to watch the final 12 minutes. With under a minute left, he gave his headband to a little boy wearing a James jersey sitting along the baseline.
"I've been struggling with playing LeBron too many minutes and I haven't gotten comfortable sitting him down yet," Brown said. "It was good to limit his playing time a little bit today."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas finished with 19 points, Donyell Marshall had 14 and Drew Gooden had 12 rebounds.
Alan Anderson led Charlotte with 14 points, while Melvin Ely and Matt Carroll scored 12 each. Jumaine Jones had 11.
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