Bad bench costs Cavs in key loss

Cleveland's reserves scored just three points in the loss to Dallas.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- With both superstars struggling, the one with the better supporting cast won.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points and Jason Terry added 21 to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time this month, 98-90 Wednesday night.
The Mavericks, who have the NBA's best record at 56-11, have won four straight and are 3-0 on a six-game road trip that's included victories over Detroit and New York.
LeBron James had a tough night shooting and got roughed up as well. He finished with 31 points but was 12-for-28 shooting as he single-handedly tried to put his team back in it.
James finally got in a groove early in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 straight on a 3-pointer and a series of drives to get within six.
The Cavaliers got their only bench points when Donyell Marshall hit a 3-pointer with 5:10 left in the fourth to make it 86-80. But Nowitzki responded with a 3-pointer, then a jumper to deflate the crowd and the Cavaliers' comeback.
James said before the game that he gets energized for Western Conference teams because the East doesn't get enough respect.
Rough night
But James (1-of-9) and Nowitzki (1-of-6) both started off cold, each scoring just eight points in the first half.
Nowitzki shot 9-of-24 with nine rebounds and six assists. He shot an airball on a late 3-pointer.
As if James' night wasn't hard enough, he banged his head on the floor after getting spun around by Josh Howard going for loose ball. He was slow to get up but stayed in the game. James also took an elbow from Nowitzki with 1:39 left and fell to the floor.
The Mavericks took over the lead for good with a 14-0 run when Cleveland went eight minutes without scoring between the first and second quarters.
The Cavaliers fell to 18-10 against the West and 12-2 at home. Those records lead all Eastern Conference teams, but the Cavaliers have failed to top the league's best team.
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