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Celtics Finally Put Away Cavs

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 19, 2008

BOSTON - Paul Pierce returned home and made sure the Celtics would play there again.

Boston's captain scored 41 points - and still lost a shootout with LeBron James with 45 - but led the team with the NBA's best regular-season record to a 97-92 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The conference finals begin Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons in the same arena where the Celtics have won 14 straight games and are 8-0 in the postseason.

"Before the year our goal was to be there in Game 1 at home and that's where we are," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "So we're exactly where we should be."

Home teams are 22-2 in the second round of this season's playoffs. But the Celtics are 0-6 on the road in the postseason after Friday night's 74-69 loss in Cleveland. Sunday, they never trailed but they never were safe until the final seconds.

Pierce hit two free throws with 7.9 seconds left for the final points, then James missed a 3-pointer on the last shot of the game with 4.4 seconds to go.

CLEVELAND (92) - James 14-29 14-19 45, Wallace 1-1 1-2 3, Ilgauskas 2-8 4-4 8, West 4-8 5-6 15, Szczerbiak 0-3 0-0 0, Smith 3-5 0-1 6, Varejao 2-2 1-2 5, Pavlovic 3-8 0-1 7, Da.Jones 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 30-67 25-35 92.

BOSTON (97) - Pierce 13-23 11-12 41, Garnett 5-13 3-4 13, Perkins 3-4 2-4 8, Rondo 4-11 0-0 8, R.Allen 1-6 2-2 4, Posey 1-1 2-2 5, Powe 0-0 4-6 4, House 1-5 2-2 4, P.Brown 4-4 2-2 10. Totals 32-67 28-34 97.

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