Defense Helps Boston Edge Cavs in Game One

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combined for just four points on 2-of-18 shooting.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

BOSTON - In NBA MVP voting announced Tuesday, Kevin Garnett finished ahead of LeBron James. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals had a similar outcome.

Garnett scored 28 points, including the go-ahead basket with 21 seconds left as the Boston Celtics edged the Cleveland Cavaliers, 76-72, to improve to 5-0 at home in the postseason.

The Defensive Player of the Year, Garnett was third in MVP voting. He backstopped a Celtics defense that harassed James into one of the worst postseason performances of his career. The NBA scoring champion who finished fourth in MVP voting, James scored 12 points on just 2-of-18 shooting while committing 10 turnovers.

Despite James' struggles, the Cavaliers found themselves in a 72-72 tie with 39 seconds left after a tip-in by Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who had 22 points and 12 rebounds. Garnett answered with a spinning drive and - after James missed a driving finger roll - James Posey sealed it with two free throws.

Game 2 is Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, and both teams know there are areas where they can be better.

For the Celtics, they should probably expect more from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, who combined for just four points on 2-of-18 shooting. For the Cavaliers, they can expect James to bounce back.

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