Pierce, Celtics stymie Cavs in battle for Eastern supremacy
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce carried the short-handed Celtics
with 29 points and nine assists and Leon Powe stepped up with a season-best
20-point, 11-rebound effort, as Boston took a step forward in the battle for
the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a thorough 105-94 win over the
Cleveland Cavaliers.
Both teams came in sporting 48 wins, with Cleveland fractions of a point ahead
for the top spot in the conference with two less defeats.
But Boston, without All-Star forward Kevin Garnett, shot a sizzling 54.2
percent from the floor, dished out 31 helpers on 45 made field goals and got
help from the TD Banknorth Garden crowd to gain an early edge for homecourt
advantage throughout the playoffs.
Ray Allen added 17 points, while Rajon Rondo shook off an early right ankle
injury to orchestrate the offense with 10 assists, as the Celtics moved to 5-2
in this recent stretch without Garnett.
LeBron James made just 5-of-15 from the field, finishing with 21 points, six
rebounds and five assists, as his rough night was summed up in a missed
fastbreak dunk in the first quarter.
Mo Williams paced the Cavs with 26 points, while Anderson Varejao chipped in
15 in the club's second loss in 11 games.
The Celtics lead the season series, 2-1, with an ever-so-important April 12th
meeting in Cleveland lurking in the final week of the regular season.
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