BOSTON — The Boston Celtics won their third straight game
with a 92-87 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the NBA leaders
charging to victory on the back of 22 points from Ray Allen.
Boston improved to a league-best 44-12 with the win as Kevin
Garnett chipped in with 18 points and 11 rebounds to help the Celtics overcome a
milestone performance by Cleveland’s LeBron James.
Despite suffering a sprained ankle that forced him out of the
game with 4:24 left in the first half, James returned in the second half to
amass 26 points that allowed him to become the youngest player in NBA history to
reach 10,000 points.
James reached the milestone after 368 games aged 23 years and
59 days, more than a year younger than LA Laker Kobe Bryant was when he hit the
mark in 2003 (24 years, 193 days).
After X-rays on James’ ankle indicated no serious damage, the
Cleveland forward returned but was unable to rally his team past the Celtics,
who were opening a five-game home stand.
"I didn’t want to go down," James said about his injury. "I
know my ankle, and tomorrow it’s going to be a lot worse.
"It doesn’t make me happy to do it (break the record) in a
losing effort but to be in the record books is a tribute to my teammates, myself
and my family."
The Cavaliers trailed by double digits for most of the game
and only got close in the final minute as the Celtics evened their season series
at 2-2 against the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Building a new winning streak after losing three straight
games, Boston shot 52 percent to just 38 percent for the Cavs, and got a
13-point performance off the bench from Leon Powe.
Paul Pierce added 12 points for the Celtics against a Cleveland team playing
its third game since an 11-player, three-team blockbuster trade.
