LeBron's bricks build Celtic's lead

From Call wire services

May 9, 2008

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 host 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-for-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-for-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.

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.

Cleveland reserve Anderson Varejao had 10 rebounds in 32 minutes after forward Ben Wallace went to the locker room just 3:40 into the game because of dizziness.

Spurs 110, Hornets 99: At San Antonio, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili both scored 31 points, and the Spurs beat New Orleans in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Chris Paul led the Hornets, who still hold a 2-1 series lead, with 35 points and nine assists. David West had 23 points and 12 rebounds for New Orleans, which was dominant in the first two games of the series.

OTHER NEWS

Lakers' Byrant unanimous All- NBA pick: Kobe Bryant added another honor to go with his MVP award, becoming the only unanimous selection to the All-NBA team.

The Laker was voted to the first team for the third straight season and sixth time overall.

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.

Vandeweghe promoted to Nets GM: K iki Vandeweghe became the New Jersey Nets' general manager Thursday, less than six months after being hired as a special assistant to team president Rod Thorn.

Vandeweghe replaces Ed Stefanski, who left in midseason to become the general manager of the 76ers.

Bucks' Williams has thumb surgery: 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.

Pistons' Billups unsure about Game 4: Chauncey Billups said he was still sore a night after he was forced to leave the Pistons' loss to Orlando in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals because of a strained right hamstring.

The All-Star guard said he isn't sure if he will be ready to play in Game 4 on Saturday in Orlando.