ATLANTA - Cleveland coach Paul Silas and reserve guard Ira Newble got into a heated argument after the Cavaliers lost their 29th straight road game Saturday night.

The argument began in Silas' office following the Atlanta Hawks' 92-83 victory. As Newble stormed from the Philips Arena office and walked quickly through the adjacent locker room and into the hallway, Silas pursued him from behind, shouting at him.

After Newble and Silas exchanged insults in the hallway, Newble kept walking and refused to comment. Neither he nor Silas would say why they were angry with each other.

Silas waved off a reporter who tried to speak with the coach as he walked later toward the team bus.

Back in the Cavs' locker room, rookie guard LeBron James tried to diffuse the situation as he spoke to reporters.

''Aw, they're just messing around,'' James said with a grin.

Silas, whose 16-year NBA playing career ended in 1980, is in his first season coaching the Cavs and ninth overall.

Newble, a former Atlanta guard, is in his first season with Cleveland. He scored two points Saturday, hitting only one of five shots in 11 minutes. Newble, who signed as a free agent in July, came off the injured list Nov. 8 after suffering tendinitis in his knee.

Newble, who entered with a 1.1 scoring average in seven games, averaged 7.7 points and 26.5 minutes last year with the Hawks.