The Bobcats scored just 48 points in those first 36 minutes, which put them in real danger of setting a team record for fewest points in a game. They avoided that indignity -- the record is 62 against the Houston Rockets -- in fourth-quarter garbage time with not a starter on the floor.

Frontcourt scoring in the first three quarters told the tale: Five centers and forwards played in those periods and Emeka Okafor, Sean May, Gerald Wallace, Jared Dudley and Dwayne Jones shot a combined 7-for-48 from the field. That represented 19 points.

Compare that to Cleveland star LeBron James, who scored 25, before sitting out the fourth quarter.

After winning four of six, the Bobcats have now lost two straight and fallen to 7-13. The Cavaliers are 17-3.

The Bobcats' first half started horribly and didn't end much better, as they trailed 55-35 entering the third quarter.

The Cavs built a quick 14-2 lead in the game's first 4 1/2 minutes, with the Bobcats missing nine of their first 10 shots and committing two turnovers. The Bobcats had their shots blocked more than any other team over the last four seasons, and it was apparent the Cavaliers were aware how vulnerable the Bobcats were in that regard; Cleveland rejected six shots in the first quarter, nearly the average per game for Charlotte opponents this season.

Okafor had three shots rejected, and it would have been four had Cleveland forward Ben Wallace not been called for a foul.

The Bobcats' only points those first 4 1/2 minutes came on a 20-foot jump shot by power forward May. After doing a good job of feeding the post their previous six games, the Bobcats defaulted heavily to jump shots versus the Cavs.

Ten of their 39 first-half shots were 3-pointers, and they made only three of those. Charlotte's frontcourt of Okafor, May and Wallace were a combined 2-for-14 from the field in the first half.

The ball-handling wasn't much better, with the Bobcats committing six first-quarter turnovers, three of those by Wallace.