A new day, another streak for the Cavs. But it's not the good kind. After winning five straight and coming home to a five-game homestand, the Cavs win streak stopped at seven and lost the last three of the homestand to mark a three-game slide.

The latest setback was last night's 103-86 humbling loss to the Phoenix Suns.

The Cavs, once all alone in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, now anxiously sit in the eighth slot. The Suns came to town with the worst record in the Western Conference and horrible defense, showed no signs of any such team. The roles seem to have been reversed. The Suns held the Cavaliers to a season-low 31 percent shooting, while Phoenix lit up the scoreboard shooting 57 percent. Joe Johnson tied a career-high with 31 points on 14-23 shooting. He also came up with six assists and six rebounds. Johnson scored most of his points against LeBron James, who couldn't seem to keep Johnson out of the paint. James countered with 25 points, on 8-21 shooting.

Carlos Boozer had another double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. But Amare Stoudemire (21 points, 11 boards) outmuscled him most of the game, hitting big shot after big shot. Shawn Marion added to the Cavs fits going 9-14 from the field for 20 points and adding nine rebounds and six assists.

Jeff McInnis returned to the lineup, despite not being 100 percent. It showed in his shooting, going 0-7 from the field. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (14 points) left the game in the third period after breaking his nose while fouling Amare Stoudemire during a shot. The Cavs defense never showed up.

The Suns made 15 of their first 21 shots, as the Cavs lacked effort and showed no interest in contesting Phoenix shots. The Suns wasted no time and took a 10-2 lead after a Leandro Barbosa layup. Phoenix then went on a 21-8 run in the second quarter to jump their lead to 57-39. The Suns would go on to lead 60-41 at the half. Shawn Marion gave the Cavs fits scoring 20 points, and grabbing some big rebounds.

Phoenix went up by as many as 21 points during the third period. But the Cavs ended the third quarter going on a 16-2 blazing run behind Boozer and James, trailing by only twelve at 79-67.

The Cavs pulled to within seven after a layup by James and a free throw by Ira Newble, but Johnson started a Suns' 7-0 spurt and Cleveland faded away.

The Suns sweep the season series 2-0. Cleveland made more free throws (29) than field goals (27). McInnis scored eight points (all free throws) and had five assists. The Cavs had 42 rebounds, while the Suns came away with 41 boards. Phoenix dished out 25 assists compared to Cleveland's 18 assists. Eric Williams shot just 1-8 from the floor.

With McInnis and Ilgauskas injured and the Cavs playing four of the next games on the road, things are not getting easier. They lead the Boston Celtics by only a half-game.

The Cavs play at Philadelphia on Friday.