With their playoff hopes riding on every game's whim, the Cavs traveled to the home of he defending NBA champs looking for a win. But in the end, San Antonio showed just hat winning is all about. The Spurs handed the Cavs their fitth loss in six games with a 101-93 victory.

And the game wasn't even as close as the score showed.

After scoring 32 points in the Cavs victory in the first game against the Spurs, LeBron James was hounded by Bruce Bowen most of the game. James still ended up with 18 points, while only playing three quarters of basketball. The Cavs bench played most of the fourth period.

Not only did the Cavs lose another game but New York, Miami, and Boston all won their games to gain more distance between themselves and Cleveland. The Cavs have now fallen 1 1/2 games behind Boston for the eighth playoff spot. Boston holds the tiebreaker because they took the season series three games to one. Miami is pulling away in the sixth spot and gaining quick ground on Milwaukee for the fifth spot.

James, coming off a career high 41 points versus New Jersey, was held to six points in the first half when the Spurs took over. The Cavs kept pace with the defending champs, down by just one at 26-25 after one period of play. Unfortunately for the Cavs, they play four quarters.

Tim Duncan got off to a horrible start in their loss at Cleveland, but this game was different. He started good early, and that led to the Spurs being good early. Duncan ended up with 18 points and seven boards, in just 28 minutes of play.

San Antonio made 14 of its 21 shots in the second quarter. The Cavs were held to just two rebounds in the second period, both by Zydrunas Ilgauskas (18 points, six rebounds). For the half the Spurs totally dominated Cleveland on the boards, outrebounding them 25-9. Cleveland was outscored 33-22 in the second and went into the half down 59-47.

Manu Ginobili, who torched the Cavs earlier in this year, came off the bench and scored 16 points in the first half and had 21 for the game. Ginobili also led the Spurs with eight rebounds.

The third period was no different. Cleveland made an early third period push, but the Spurs seemed too much. San Antonio outscored the Cavs 27-18 in the period, behind Tony Parker's 10 points.

The Spurs led by as many as 23 points early in the fourth quarter. Lee Nailon scored 11 of his 15 points in the quarter. DaJuan Wagner scored eight points in the period. The Cavs got the margin down to eight at the end of the game to make the score respectable.

Carlos Boozer had just 11 points and four rebounds in the loss. Mateen Cleaves, signed earlier to a 10-day contract, went scoreless with two assists in his first Cavs' appearance.

The Spurs shot extremely well from the floor hitting on 51 percent of their shots. Cleveland shot well also at 47 percent. The Cavs never recovered from their poor rebounding in the first half and ended up losing the battle 45-33 to the Spurs. The Spurs had 17 offensive rebounds to the Cavs 10 offensive boards.

It doesn't get any easier as the Cavs play the Dallas Mavericks in Big D Tuesday night.