LeBron wants to rest again before playoffs

LeBron James took two weeks off to recover from nagging injuries earlier in the season and it did wonders for him. He wants to rest again.

James, who set the Cleveland Cavaliers' all-time assist record in Tuesday's win over the Dallas Mavericks, plans to take a breather before the playoffs begin in late April.

"It's um, game by game right now," James told reporters. "Obviously this week is a good week for us to continue to get better. We'll see how we are toward the later stages. I would love to get some more rest, especially going into the playoffs and knowing how important those games are, and how physically taxing those games can be, mentally as well, so we'll see what happens."

The Cavaliers are interested in resting him, too, before its first playoff series since 2010 - the final year of James' initial run with the organization.

The four-time MVP sat out eight consecutive games in late December and early January after he was diagnosed with strains to his knee and back. Cleveland went 1-7 without him, but has gone 22-7 since his return.

James has played better across the board and has helped the Cavaliers leapfrog the injury-stricken Chicago Bulls for first place in the Central Division. He ranks third in the league in scoring, averaging 26 points, and is seventh in assists (7.3).

The Cavaliers, second in the Eastern Conference, are at it again Thursday versus the San Antonio Spurs, winners of a six consecutive.