Spurs-Cavaliers Preview

08/03/2010 12:59:00

The Cleveland Cavaliers have every reason to be especially careful with LeBron James´ ankle injury. At least his condition does not seem to be nearly as bad as Tony Parker´s.The Cavaliers seem likely to be without James again as they try to reach 50 wins Monday night against a San Antonio Spurs team that could be without Parker for the rest of the regular season.James sitting out a second consecutive game is a strong possibility after he rolled his right ankle in Cleveland´s 99-92 win over Detroit on Friday night. He did not take part in the Monday morning shootaround, and while Cleveland coach Mike Brown said James will be a game-time decision, he indicated he is leaning toward resting the league MVP.``If he fights me hard enough, maybe I´ll let him play,´´ said Brown, who sat James in a 92-85 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday. ``But this is an opportune time for him to get some rest.´´After facing San Antonio, the Cavaliers do not play again until Friday, and Brown wants to take advantage of a break in the schedule to get James healthier.Brown said James could have played against the Bucks if needed, but kept him on the bench as the Cavaliers (49-15) had a six-game winning streak snapped.James, averaging a league-best 30.0 points, was replaced by Jawad Williams. Antawn Jamison had 30 points and Delonte West added a season-high 27, but Cleveland couldn´t overcome James´ absence while also missing Shaquille O´Neal (thumb).After playing six of nine on the road, the Cavs return home to try to become the league´s first team to win 50 games. They´ve won 25 of their last 27 at Quicken Loans Arena.San Antonio (36-24) has won four straight, but it might have a tough time continuing its momentum without Parker. The veteran point guard could miss six weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand at the end of the first half of the Spurs´ 102-92 win over Memphis on Saturday night.Parker, who earned NBA finals MVP honors when San Antonio swept Cleveland in 2007, is the Spurs´ second-leading scorer at 16.5 points per game.San Antonio confirmed the break but did not say how long Parker would miss. He will be re-evaluated by the team.Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, however, was more direct."He´s got a broken hand. He´ll be out six weeks," he said.Manu Ginobili is a candidate to replace Parker in the starting lineup, though San Antonio may prefer to keep him in his current role as the team´s top player off the bench. Another option for the Spurs is Roger Mason, who was a starter last season."We´re playing well," San Antonio forward Tim Duncan said. "That is the one positive about the whole thing. We´re going to have to get these guys to step up and step in and continue to play well."It hurts losing Tony, obviously. Hopefully, we´ll find a way to get it done."Ginobili is coming off a 17-point performance and is averaging 18.3 in his last eight games, but he was held to four points on 2-of-9 shooting in San Antonio´s 101-81 loss to Cleveland on April 5, the teams´ last meeting. The Cavs won their only other matchup with the Spurs last season 97-86 on Feb. 27, 2009.