Basketball: Cavaliers are victorious back on home ground

LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first victory against the Boston Celtics in the NBA eastern conference finals.

LeBron James blocks a dunk by Aron Baynes as the Cavaliers beat the Celtics. Picture: Getty Images.

LeBron James proved there is no place like home as he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first victory against the Boston Celtics in the NBA eastern conference finals.

The Cavaliers were atrocious in lopsided losses in the first two games in Boston but yesterday in game three in front of their home crowd in Quicken Loans Arena they crushed the Celtics 116-86.

Today’s game four of the best-of-seven series is also in Cleveland.

“Tonight as a group, even when things broke down, we covered for one another,” James said. “We made them make extra passes, we made them make extra dribbles, so we were flying around.”

The Cavs had six players score in double figures, a contrast to the two losses where James was the main offensive threat.

He was lethally efficient. James led the Cavs with 27 points off just 12 field-goal attempts and had five rebounds, two steals, two blocks and 12 assists.

Some of his assists were extraordinary, with the 33-year-old delivering them at extreme angles, often with his left hand and around Celtics’ defenders, including Aron Baynes.

The Australian big man had seven points, six rebounds and two blocks and was involved in above-the-rim clashes with Cleveland’s superstar. James was the victor in a first-quarter play where he prevented a Baynes dunk with a spectacular block, but Boston’s centre responded 30 seconds later with a successful slam.

In the third quarter, Baynes flattened JR Smith when he and the Cavs guard collided heavily.

Smith, who appeared to be convulsing when flattened on the floor, was stunned when he eventually stood up and discovered he was called for the foul. Baynes added to his new-found reputation as a three-point shooter with his one attempt dropping in the third quarter.

The Cavs successfully subdued the Celtics’ leader Al Horford, who had just seven points. Boston were never in the game. Cleveland led at the end of the first quarter 32-17, at halftime were up 61-41 and heading into the final quarter extended the lead to 87-63.

“Clearly the team that played with more energy was Cleveland,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.

In the Celtics’ two wins the Cavs’ starting guards failed to make an impact but in game three George Hill had 13 points and Smith 11 points, including sinking three of four three-point shots.

History remains on Boston’s side.

AAP