Celtics stifle James, Cavs

Boston rallies to take 2-0 lead in East semifinal

Wire reports

May 9, 2008

BOSTON - Paul Pierce and Ray Allen found their shooting touch. LeBron James can only hope he left his in Cleveland.

Pierce scored 19 points, Kevin Garnett added 13 with 12 rebounds, and Allen broke out of a seven-quarter scoring drought with 16 points to help the Boston Celtics beat the Cavaliers 89-73 on Thursday night and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

One game after going 2 of 18 from the field and missing his last six shots, including a layup to tie the game with 8.5 seconds left, James missed his first three tries and finished with 21 points on 6-of-24 shooting.

This time it was contagious: The Cavaliers shot 35.6 percent in the game, hitting just 11.8 percent in the second quarter as Boston turned an eight-point deficit into a nine-point lead. The Celtics are 6-0 in the playoffs in Boston.

James — who was serenaded by the fans with a chant of "Over-rated!" — went 3 of 8 from the field in the first quarter but went 1 of 11 over the second and third when Boston took control.

From early in the second quarter to early in the third, a span of 13:41, Boston outscored Cleveland 36-10.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 19 points for the Cavaliers. Game 3 is Saturday night in Cleveland.

Bryant unanimous All-NBA

Lakers star Kobe Bryant added another honor Thursday to go with his MVP award, becoming the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team.

Joining Bryant on the first team were New Orleans guard Chris Paul, who was three votes shy of being a unanimous pick, along with Boston's Kevin Garnett, Cleveland's LeBron James and Orlando center Dwight Howard.

Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash of Phoenix were voted to the second team along with San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Utah guard Deron Williams and Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki. The third team consisted of Houston's Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, plus Utah's Carlos Boozer, Boston's Paul Pierce and the Spurs' Manu Ginobili, the league's top sixth man.

Elsewhere

NETS: Kiki Vandeweghe was promoted to general manager less than six months after being named special assistant to team President Rod Thorn. Vandeweghe replaces Ed Stefanski, who left in midseason to become the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. ... A man who accused forward Richard Jefferson of grabbing him by the throat in an incident in a Minneapolis club this year had too much to drink, Jefferson said in a radio interview. Jefferson was charged with assault on Wednesday for the Jan. 27 incident when the Nets were in Minneapolis to play the Timberwolves. A court hearing is set for June 18.

PISTONS: Point guard Chauncey Billups (hamstring) will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against the Magic on Saturday.

SUPERSONICS: A federal judge ruled documents subpoenaed from a group that attempted to buy the team from their Oklahoma-based owners can remain sealed. A trial is due to start next month in the city of Seattle's attempt to enforce the final two years of the SuperSonics' lease at KeyArena. ... Former Utah Jazz player personnel director Troy Weaver is the team's new assistant general manager.

BUCKS: Point guard Mo Williams had surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb and is expected to be ready for training camp in October.