Temptation Island is sup posedly reality television?

Try being John Lucas - with one eye on Zydrunas Ilgauskas' minutes and the other on games slipping away quicker than a cheating boyfriend.

Last night's 94-91 loss to Philadelphia leaked more gradually and in full view of Ilgauskas, who was on the court for the final five minutes but missed two critical foul shots and failed to pull down a crucial rebound off an Allen Iverson free-throw miss.

"We didn't get anything out of Z," said Lucas. "That was the first time since he's been back."

Lucas played Ilgauskas 22 minutes last night, keeping with the plan to play him 20-24 minutes to guard against reinjuring his surgically repaired foot. There are probably more nights ahead like Tuesday in Houston, where the Cavs wasted a large lead with Ilgauskas on the bench and Lucas watching the clock as if it were a fuel gauge needle.

"The goal is to win games," Lucas said. "But Z needs a win, too, and the win for him is making it through the season."