The locker room could’ve been especially deflated at halftime because players know they’re going to be missing some top players for a while. Johnson said before the game that Harris and Howard will be out most of the rest of the regular season, with Griffin and reserve Keith Van Horn likely missing several more games.

Then came 12 of the best minutes of Dallas’ season. The Mavs outscored the Cavs 27-8, outrebounded them 17-8 and didn’t have a turnover. James had six of Cleveland’s points, but took only four shots.

“I thought we were a little more physical with them,” Johnson said. “We seemed like we were apologizing for being on the court in the first half.”

The Cavaliers lost their third straight game and sixth straight in Dallas. Their previous game, against Miami, followed a similar script — a blown second-half lead, then a near-comeback that fell short.

“Two games in a row we’ve played a playoff opponent in their building, they stepped it up and we didn’t know how to respond,” Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. “The crowd was alive and it was too much for us to handle.”

Notes: Dallas’ previous best defensive quarter was 10 points, done several times. ... James was 8-for-8 from the line after setting NBA season-highs for makes (24) and attempts (28) against the Heat. ... This was the fifth time this season the Mavs have won after trailing by at least 17. ... The teams hadn’t met all season, but will again March 29 in Cleveland.

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