James had 38 points, Delonte West and Mo Williams each had 22, and the Cavaliers handed the Spurs their most lopsided loss in nearly three months. By the end of it, even coach Gregg Popovich seemed punch drunk.

"The Cavs just sucked," Popovich said, with playful sarcasm. "If I were them, I'd be really worried. I don't think they're going to win any more games, as bad as they played."

His sardonic soliloquy complete, Popovich inhaled, looked at the ground and cursed.

It was that kind of day for the Spurs, who are still struggling to gain traction as the postseason approaches. They are 10-10 in their past 20 games, and are hanging on to a half-game lead over the Rockets for the third seed in the Western Conference.

In some ways, the Spurs (49-27) saw their latest loss coming all the way from Indianapolis. While they were holding on for dear life to put away the Pacers on Friday, Orlando was busy administering the Cavs a 29-point beatdown.

That was the second loss in a row for Cleveland, just its second two-game losing streak of the season. Even before the Spurs walked into Quicken Loans Arena, they were braced for impact.

"We knew we were in trouble," Popovich said.

Before the day was over, the Spurs had suffered their worst defeat since losing 109-87 in Philadelphia on Jan. 16. Meanwhile, the Cavs extended their record to an NBA-best 62-15, including a franchise-record 37-1 at home.

"Our last two games, we didn't play Cavaliers Basketball and got embarrassed," James said. "To come back home and play like we did is a good sign."

For the Spurs, all signs Sunday were bad. At this point, it would be a hard sell to call this game an NBA Finals preview.

Parker led the Spurs with 24 points. Drew Gooden, the former Cav, had 15 off the bench. No other player Spurs player hit double figures.

Tim Duncan could not take advantage of a Cleveland frontcourt down two wide bodies (Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace). He scored just six points on seven field goal attempts, none after the first quarter. Manu Ginobili managed just four points, and missed all six of his 3-point tries.

One indicator of the Spurs' struggles: James, West and Williams combined to outscore the Spurs 82-81.

"It helps, when you play Basketball, when you make shots," Parker noted.

The Cavaliers can vouch for that, starting with James.

The Spurs dared him to settle for jumpers early, and he happily obliged, knocking down six of his first seven. By the end of the first quarter, he was up to 18 points.

Still, the Spurs weathered James' jump-shooting storm and trailed by just one point entering the second quarter. The game began to come unraveled when, with James resting, Williams and West traded baskets during a 10-0 Cleveland run to open the frame.

Down 13 at half, the Spurs pulled within 62-57 on Gooden's tip with 7:21 to go in the third quarter. After that, Williams threw in another 3-pointer, followed it with a pull-up jumper, and the Spurs went cold again.

Heading into the fourth, the Spurs were behind by 15. The game was all but decided.

Which is how James came to be sitting on the bench with about two minutes to go, nursing a nosebleed. The culprit wasn't wearing silver and black.

"It was Joe Smith," James said. "He went to give me a high-five, and he hit me in my damn nose."

It was that kind of day for the Cavs. The only thing they botched was the celebration.

The Spurs leave Cleveland with their own wounds to lick. From here, they head to Oklahoma City for a game Tuesday against a team that has suddenly become as difficult for them to beat as the Lakers.

Asked if six regular-season games are enough for the Spurs to get things together, Parker shrugged.

"We have no choice," he said.