CLEVELAND (AP) – LeBron James scored 19 points, Larry Hughes added 18 and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense smothered and frustrated San Antonio during a rugged 82-78 win over the Spurs on Tuesday night.
Damon Jones made two 3-pointers and four free throws in the final 1:35 as the Cavs, who have struggled on the road, improved to 14-3 at home and beat the Spurs for the second time this season.
They did so by harassing San Antonio all over the court, holding the NBA’s second-most accurate shooting team to just 38 percent from the field and only 10 points in the third quarter.
Jones scored all 11 points in the fourth, and Anderson Varejao added seven rebounds, including four on the offensive end when he outhustled and outmuscled San Antonio’s big men under the basket.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 26 points – 14 in the fourth – and Tim Duncan had 18 points and 15 rebounds.
San Antonio played the final six minutes without coach Gregg Popovich, who was assessed two technical fouls and was ejected following a wild sequence. Assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo ran the club down the stretch.
Despite shooting just 36 percent from the floor, the Cavaliers won their third straight over the Spurs, the first time they’ve done that since 1988.
AP-ES-01-02-07 2148EST
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