Razor sharp Spurs cut down Cavaliers from the perch of Eastern Conference
LOS ANGELES: Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points and left to a standing ovation as the San Antonio Spurs humbled the NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers 103-74 less than three weeks before the start of the playoffs.
The late-season glamour match-up in San Antonio on Monday fizzled as the Spurs took control in the first quarter thanks not only to stars like Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge but also to stellar play from their reserves.
Adding to the misery for Cleveland, Cavs superstar LeBron James took an elbow just above the shoulder blades from Spurs David Lee in the waning seconds of the third quarter that sent him slumping to the court.
He stayed there for several scary minutes before making his way to the bench and with the Cavs trailing 81-58 going into the fourth quarter, he didn’t return to the court.
“I’m fine,” he said after the game, vowing to be ready for the Cavs’ next game tomorrow in Chicago.
James scored 17 points before departing, but the Cavs endured their ninth defeat in 15 games in March.
The Cavaliers connected on just 37.3% of their shots from the floor and for the first time since November 2015 fell out of first place in the Eastern Conference as their record fell to 47-26. The Boston Celtics now lead the East at 48-26.
James said the seeding for the playoffs was not a major concern.
“I want us to be playing better basketball,” James said after the Cavs were held to a season-low points total. “That’s what it comes down to.
“San Antonio is a well-oiled machine and they exploit anything you are not doing well,” he added. “At this point in the season we just aren’t playing good basketball. It’s frustrating right now, but we are a veteran ball club and we will work through this and get things together. We’ve been like a roller coaster all season long and we have to get things right.”
The Spurs posted their fifth straight win and at 57-16 pulled within two games of the Golden State Warriors in the race for the best record in the league and the Western Conference lead.
Pau Gasol scored 14 points and Manu Ginobili chipped in 12 for the Spurs.
While the San Antonio crowed was geared up for a playoff-calibre contest, the Spurs soon took all suspense out of the proceedings, using a 17-8 run over the final half of the first quarter to take a 28-18 lead.
The Spurs’ bench were big contributors, out-scoring Cleveland’s bench 15-0 in the first quarter and 28-0 in the first half.
Cavs star Kyrie Irving scored just eight points and saw his run of 21 straight games with at least 20 points end.