J.J. Hickson had 16 points and 19 rebounds - one short of his career high - and the Cleveland Cavaliers dealt a crushing blow to the Charlotte Bobcats’ playoff hopes with a 99-89 home victory Tuesday.

The Cavaliers opened an 18-point lead after the first quarter and weren’t really threatened again, although the Bobcats temporarily cut the deficit to four on a basket by Gerald Henderson with 2:51 left.

But they got no closer and fell 2 1/2 games behind the Indiana Pacers with five left to play. The Pacers are eighth in the Eastern Conference and also hold the tiebreaker over the Bobcats, whose next two games are against Miami and Orlando..

Ramon Sessions scored 18 points off the bench and Ryan Hollins had 16 on 7 of 7 shooting for the Cavs, who snapped a three-game losing streak while placing seven players in double figures.

D.J. Augustin scored 22 points and Henderson had 15 for the Bobcats.