LeBron a spoiler on Pierce Night
BOSTON (AP) – LeBron James quieted a Celtics crowd that came to celebrate Paul Pierce on Sunday, finishing with 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds to give new-look Cleveland a 121-99 victory over Boston in an individual performance reminiscent of the rivalry's heyday.
And this time, Pierce was sitting courtside in street clothes, unable to do anything about it.
James shook off a first-quarter leg injury to score 13 in the second quarter – eight of them during a 13-2 run that turned a one-point deficit into a doubledigit lead. The Celtics made it 64-55 on the first basket of the third quarter but never got within 10 again.
As the Cavaliers opened a 27-point lead midway through the fourth, the crowd began chanting "We want Paul Pierce!" But he remained in his baseline seat, awaiting the postgame ceremony that would raise his No. 34 to the TD Garden rafters. THUNDER 110, GRIZZLIES 92 OKLAHOMA CITY – Paul George scored 33 points and Oklahoma City beat Memphis without fellow stars Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.
Westbrook missed the game with a sprained left ankle and Carmelo Anthony sat out with a sprained right ankle. George responded by making 10 of 24 shots and adding eight assists. JAZZ 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 96 PORTLAND, Ore. – Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and newcomer Jae Crowder had 15 in his Utah debut to help the Jazz win their 10th straight game.
PACERS 121, KNICKS 113 INDIANAPOLIS – Victor Oladipo had 30 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to help Indiana beat New York. TIMBERWOLVES 111, KINGS 106
MINNEAPOLIS – Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points, Jeff Teague added 12 points and 10 assists and Minnesota overcame an uncharacteristic sloppy performance at home to beat Sacramento.