The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - Joe Johnson tied a career-high with 31 points and the Phoenix Suns hurt Cleveland's playoff hopes with a 103-86 win Tuesday night.

It was the third straight loss for the Cavaliers, who began the night just a game ahead of Boston and Toronto for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

LeBron James nearly pulled Cleveland back into it several times, scoring 19 second-half points. But Johnson and Amare Stoudemire made key baskets each time the Cavaliers started to gain momentum.

Stoudemire had 21 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Shawn Marion scored 20. The Suns won back-to-back games for the first time since winning four straight in mid-January.

The Cavaliers shot a season-low 31 percent. James finished 8-for-21 for 25 points.

Jeff McInnis started after missing two games with a bruised right shoulder, even though he wasn't 100 percent. It affected his shooting as he went 0-for-7. He scored eight points from the foul line and had five assists.

Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said before the game that he'd rather wait until McInnis was completely healthy, but he would the decision up to the point guard.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas left the game with a bruised nose after fouling Stoudemire 10:53 into the third quarter. He did not return. It was his second bloody nose in three games.

Ilgauskas had 14 points. Carlos Boozer scored 19 with 14 rebounds.

The Suns led by 21 in the third period, but James had two steals and six points during an 11-2 run that pulled the Cavaliers to 79-67.

The Cavaliers got within seven in the fourth quarter on James' three-point play and a layup, but Johnson kept the Cavaliers from pulling any closer by responded with a quick score to start a 6-0 run.

The Suns opened up a 14-point first-quarter lead on back to back 3-pointers by Marion.

Phoenix widened the lead to 60-41 at halftime by beating Cleveland in every aspect of the game. Johnson hurt the Cavaliers from the outside and they couldn't find an answer for Stoudemire inside.

• Forward Lee Nailon signed for the rest of the season. Nailon signed the first of two 10-day contracts March 3 and averaged 7.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in nine games with the Cavaliers.

PACERS: Jermaine O'Neal has a bone bruise on his left knee and is doubtful for Indiana's game against Dallas today. O'Neal is averaging a team-leading 20.6 points and 10.2 rebounds a game for the Pacers (51-19), who are tied with Sacramento for the best record in the NBA.

• Indiana will start selling playoff tickets Saturday for their first two home games, team officials announced Tuesday.

Tickets will go on sale at 11 a.m. EST at Conseco Fieldhouse, all Ticketmaster outlets and on the Internet at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.ConsecoFieldhouse.com and tickets also can be purchased by phone at 1-800-4NBA Tix.

BULLS: Forward Paul Shirley will miss the rest of the season after bruising his kidney in Monday night's loss to the Pacers.

Shirley was hospitalized when the Bulls returned from Indianapolis and remained there Tuesday, Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. X-rays were negative.

"He was in a lot of pain. It was a bad flight for him. It was a struggle," Skiles said.

The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Shirley was injured with 5:34 left Monday night after a collision with the Pacers' Austin Croshere.

BRYANT TRIAL: The woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape will be forced to testify today about her sex life - a move some experts fear could discourage other women from reporting sexual assaults. The 19-year-old woman will testify behind closed doors, but media members will be at the courthouse to report that she had to answer questions from defense attorneys about intimate details of her life.