LBJ Just Misses Triple-Double Cavaliers Hold On To Beat Boston 114-113

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main

LeBron James just missed a triple-double, as he scored a game high 33 points, a game high 12 assists, 9 rebounds, a game high 5 steals, and 2 blocks, as the Cleveland Cavaliers held on to defeat the Boston Celtics 114-113 Tuesday night. Cleveland held on despite a fourth quarter surge by the Celtics who shot a scorching 56.9% from the floor (42-74) 50% from outside the arc (9-18) and 90.9% from the line. The Cavaliers shot 50.6% from the floor (40-79) and hit 10 treys, in the win. Boston was without All-Star forward Kevin Garnett for the fourth straight game as he was out with a?an abdominal strain. The “Big Ticket” was hurt on January 25, as the Celtics defeated Minnesota.?

This game was like an amusement park ride as the two teams were tied 46 times, and the lead changed hands an incredible 56 times! Cleveland’s largest lead was 6 points, while the Celtics never led by more than 3 points, at any time during the game. The Cavaliers had a paper thin lead at the end of the first quarter as they led 36-35, Boston took a slightly larger 66-64 lead as the two teams hit the half. Cleveland had taken back the lead and had pushed it to five points at the end of the third, as they led 92-87. The Cavaliers got the lead up to 6 points, as they led 97-91 with 9:55 left in the game, but the Celtics scored the next five points to cut he lead back to 1 point, 97-96. Each time Cleveland would surge ahead?Boston would roar back. Cleveland actually led 114-110 as Zydrunas Ilgauskas made two at the line, but a James Posey trey at the buzzer would make the final margin of victory just 1 point.

James had one of his most complete games of the year leading his team in almost category. The two that he did not lead the team in Big “Z” did, as he recorded a double-double, 21 points, a?game high 10 boards, a game high 5 blocks, and 2 assists. Larry Hughes scored?18 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, Ira Newble stepped up big time scoring 15 points, 2 rebounds. Daniel Gibson came off the?bench scoring 11 points, 2 steals, 2 rebounds, 1 assist.

Ray Allen scored 24 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, to lead Boston. Rajon Rondo scored 20 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, Paul Pierce scored 19 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal. Tony Allen scored 14 points coming off the bench, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, Kendrick Perkins scored 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. The Cavaliers are only the second opponent to beat the Celtics twice this season, as they join?Orlando.?Cleveland improves to?27-20 with the win, Boston is now 36-9.??

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