RE-TOOLED CAVS SPOIL PIERCE’S DAY
Cavs spoil Paul Pierce’s celebration with 22-point rout of Boston Celtics
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 double-digit 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.
Terry Rozier had 21 points and nine assists, and Kyrie Irving had 18 points against his former team before sitting out the fourth quarter.
THUNDER 110, GRIZZLIES 92
In 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.
Alex Abrines scored 16 points and Raymond Felton, Jerami Grant and Patrick Patterson each added 14 for the Thunder. Marc Gasol scored 18 points for the Grizzlies.
JAZZ 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 96
In Portland, Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and newcomer Jae Crowder had 15 in his Utah debut to help the Jazz win their 10th straight game.
Crowder, acquired in a threeteam trade from the Cavaliers at the deadline this week, made his first appearance with the Jazz, entering the game with 6:12 left in the first quarter. Crowder’s dad, Corey, played for the Jazz in the 1991-92 season.
Joe Ingles added 24 points for the Jazz, who were playing without Ricky Rubio because of a sore hip. It is Utah’s longest winning streak since stringing together nine in 2010. /
I know the guys that are here are very excited about this opportunity. It’s my job to as the leader of this team to make sure that I acclimate the new four guys to be around a culture that’s built around winning.
LEBRON JAMES