Las Vegas Review-Journal

Celtics can’t curtail new-look Cavaliers

James, Cleveland ruin Pierce’s big day

- The Associated Press

BOSTON — Lebron James led the new-look Cavaliers to a blowout in Boston with an individual performanc­e reminiscen­t of the rivalry’s heyday.

And this time, Paul Pierce was sitting courtside in street clothes, unable to do anything about it.

With the former Celtics great waiting to see his No. 34 raised to the TD Garden rafters, James shook off a first-quarter leg injury to score 24 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds to give Cleveland a 121-99 victory Sunday.

In their first appearance­s since being acquired at the trade deadline, Jordan Clarkson scored 17 points, Rodney Hood 15, George Hill 12 and Larry Nance Jr. five. The foursome practiced with the Cavs for the first time Saturday.

“I know the guys that are here are very excited about this opportunit­y,” James said. “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.”

James scored 13 in the second quarter — eight 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 rafters — the 23rd person in the history of the NBA’S most-decorated franchise to be so honored.

“It definitely gave me chills, especially with Lebron out there,” Pierce said. “I wanted to be out there.”

The current Celtics, who have spent much of the season in first place in the East, could have used him.

“Yeah, we stunk,” coach Brad Stevens said. “But they were really good. They had a lot to do with that.”

Terry Rozier had 21 and nine assists for Boston, and Kyrie Irving scored 18 against his former team before sitting out the fourth quarter. The Celtics have lost three of four to fall behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Cavaliers, who have won three straight, are 5½ games behind the Celtics.

James banged into Boston center Aron Baynes in the lane with about five minutes left in the first quarter and hobbled off the court, favoring his right leg. He came back in with nine minutes left in the half and hit a jumper to tie it 40-all before his outburst that helped the Cavs pull away.

— At Oklahoma City, Paul George had 33 points and eight assists for Oklahoma City, which again was without Russell Westbrook (left ankle sprain) and Carmelo Anthony (right ankle sprain).

At Portland, Ore., Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Joe Ingles

24 for Utah, which won its 10th in a row. Damian Lillard scored 39 for Portland, which had won nine straight at home.

At Minneapoli­s, Karl-anthony Towns scored 29 points for Minnesota, which overcame 17 turnovers and 22 second-chance points by Sacramento to win its 13th straight home game.

At Indianapol­is, Victor Oladipo had 30 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for Indiana, which won for the sixth time in eight games and dealt New York its sixth straight loss. At Houston, James Harden scored 27 points and Chris Paul 25 for Houston, which won its eighth straight and 12th in 13 games and handed Dallas its eighth loss in 10 games.

At Charlotte, N.C., Demar Derozan scored 25 points and C.J. Miles 24 for Toronto, which won its fifth straight and gave coach Dwane Casey his 300th victory with the team.

At Atlanta, Dewayne Dedmon put Atlanta ahead to stay with a threepoint play and totaled 20 points and 13 rebounds. Andre Drummond had 25 points and 15 rebounds for Detroit.

Thunder 110, Grizzlies 92 Jazz 115, Trail Blazers 96 — Timberwolv­es 111, Kings 106 — Pacers 121, Knicks 113 — Rockets 104, Mavericks 97 — Raptors 123, Hornets 103 — Hawks 118, Pistons 115 —

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