Every 284 days or so, the Suns lose a home game.
Then again, they only play LeBron James once a season in Arizona.
James and the Cavaliers pulled away late and pounded the Suns, 109-91, Monday night, breaking the Suns' 19-game home win streak.
The Suns are now 10-1 at home this season. They hadn't lost in Arizona since March 12, with more than a month left in last season.
The team that beat them then? The same Cavaliers.
LeBron James wasn't spectacular, at least not by his standards. He shot 11-for-21 for 29 points (he averages 28.6).
But he scored on everything from spectacular slams to perimeter shots, and coach Mike Brown lauded him for directing the offense, moving the ball from side to side, setting screens and rolling to the basket.
"When he does that, we're hard to beat," Brown said.
James said, "I'm always in attack mode. Whatever the defense gives me, I'm going to take."
The Suns' strategy was to single-cover James as much as possible, with Grant Hill taking the lead.
The object: to limit the Cavs' 3-point game, which is No. 2 in the in the league (the Suns are No. 1).
They also had Amar'e Stoudemire cover Shaquille O'Neal to try to lessen foul problems for Channing Frye, so that the perimeter-shooting Frye could stay in the game and loosen up the Cavs' defense.
Coach Alvin Gentry preached over and over before the game that the Suns couldn't afford turnovers against the Cavs, who also whipped them in Cleveland on Dec. 2.
Yet they ended up with 18 turnovers, which led to 30 Cavs' points.
"If you turn the ball over against them, you're probably going to pay," Gentry said.
Poor 3-point shooting was a culprit as well. The Suns shot just 4-for-19 from distance; their season percentage is 43. The Cavs, at 5-for-12, were much more efficient.
Steve Nash had 18 points and 10 assists for the Suns (18-10).
The Suns, clearly hurting from the ankle injury suffered last month by Leandro Barbosa, at times struggled with their reserves in the game.
Barbosa, for years one of the game's most prolific scorers off the bench, has now missed 11 straight games (the Suns are 4-7).
Before this, they were 14-3.
Barbosa could return by Friday.
The Suns also didn't get the required big game from Amar'e Stoudemire, who finished with 14 points, 12 boards and six turnovers.
With the Suns trailing 96-87 midway through the final quarter, Stoudemire missed a layup, then had a follow shot blocked by Anderson Varejao.
The frustrated Stoudemire then drew a technical foul.
James wrapped it up a few moments later with a 3-pointer and then a layup that gave the Cavs a decisive 105-86 lead.
The game marked the return of Shaquille O'Neal, who had played the previous season-and-a-half in Phoenix.
Shaq drew a mostly indifferent reaction from Suns' fans, scattered applause mixed in with a few boos.
Then those fans saw why their team probably is better off without him.
Stoudemire, who idolized Shaq growing up in Florida, fired in 10 quick points by shooting over him.
At the other end, Shaq drew two quick fouls then headed to the bench.
He was replaced by Varejao, who ended up being the game's most effective inside player (13 points, four rebounds, zero turnovers).
Coach Mike Brown said he is learning how to use the big fellow. At the same time, Brown said he'll play him in moderation so that the Cavs' long-term interests are protected.
"I need to make sure I don't overplay him," said Brown. "If I keep him around 22 or 24 minutes a night, I think I'm doing my job...even if it means sacrificing some points here and there.
"It's a goal to make sure he's healthy and ready to go at the end of the season."
Of course, "There may be times he plays more than that. There may be times in the playoffs where he plays more than that."
The bottom line: "My goal is to grow and learn with him but not to overuse him in the regular season."
O'Neal ended up with three points, five rebounds and four turnovers in 19 minutes.
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