Cavs fall to Spurs 96-95 on Leonard's 3-pointer with 2.9 seconds left

Dion Waiters dunks during the second quarter Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs in Cleveland. Waiters had 20 points, but the Cavs lost 96-95 in the final seconds. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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CLEVELAND: Kawhi Leonard’s wide open 3-pointer from the corner with 2.9 seconds left gave the San Antonio Spurs a stunning 96-95 win over the Cavaliers, sending them tumbling into the All-Star break carrying a three-game losing streak.

Dion Waiters gave the Cavs a 95-93 lead with 9.5 seconds left when he hit a big jumper on a night Kyrie Irving struggled through one of his worst nights as a pro. Irving had a season-low 6 points and shot a season-low 2 of 15 and was a bystander in the corner when Waiters hit the go-ahead jumper.

Irving had a shot to win it, but Alonzo Gee struggled to get the inbounds pass in against the Spurs’ defense. Gee finally got it to Irving going away from the basket. Irving slipped upon catching it, regained his footing and heaved a prayer from around the free-throw line as Tony Parker swarmed him. The shot clanked off the backboard as Irving was falling to the ground.

Waiters had 20 points and six rebounds, but made the critical mistake of leaving Leonard open in the corner for the game winner. Tyler Zeller, who has struggled miserably the last week, had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Parker had 24 poiints, seven assists and six rebounds for the Spurs.