USA TODAY Sports

It is pretty clear the Spurs just aren't the same team when Tim Duncan isn't on the floor.

LeBron James scored 29 points as Cleveland belatedly beat one of the top National Basketball Association teams by downing the San Antonio Spurs 117-103.

For the second straight game, all three Cavs stars scored at least 20 points.

Kawhi Leonard led San Antonio with 24 and six boards while LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 points.

In a report by Nick Eilerson for the Washington Post, the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich, the Dallas Mavericks' Rick Carlisle, and the Los Angeles Lakers' Byron Scott were the ones who were most vocal about their opinions. "We've got to learn on the fly with Ty being the head coach", said Love, who made five of the team's nine 3-pointers.

Winning in San Antonio likely will require a big effort from Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging 20.0 points and 12.3 rebounds over the past three meetings with the Spurs. 549 from the field (45-for-82) and committing only 10 turnovers, with just two in a 66-point first half. They also scored 66 in the first half of Friday's win at the Detroit Pistons. "They got three great players who were terrific", Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. They lost to the Warriors on Monday, giving 120 points.

It has been a turbulent week for the Cavs, who have taken criticism across the league - including from Popovich - for firing coach David Blatt despite owning the best record in the East. They were 1-6 against the Warriors, Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls before Saturday. I thought tonight was a picture-perfect way of how we want to play.

Irving and backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova combined for the first 18 points of the fourth quarter and the Cavs maintained a double-digit lead most of the night.

"They pushed the ball", Parker said. It's one of those games where our defense just wasn't there.

It was a very anticipated game for the Cavaliers and they did more than just win the game. "So how are you going to beat a good team playing that well?"

LeBron James and the gang hit the court and something was off, with the team looking like a "one of these is not like the others" quiz.

With the Spurs loss yesterday, they picked up their eighth on the season.

James didn't know he had on the wrong shorts until someone told him during a timeout in the first quarter.