By Carlo Valdez
EBC New York Bureau
BOSTON (Eagle News) — The game that had so much hype around the league; LeBron James against Kyrie Irving, two former teammates and now foes on the basketball court, did not go down to the wire as everyone expected as Irving and the Boston Celtics easily defeated James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-88 Wednesday night.
James got off to a hot start, easily running through Boston’s defense in the first half, but fell flat at the end as the young and talented Celtics were able to control the game the whole night with the bench contributing 45 of the team’s 102 points.
“They played at a high level tonight and they were playing extremely well at home you know, and on the road at times as well so you know they gave us a good one tonight,” said James, who finished with 19 points. “But I don’t know who we are or where we can be until we get I.T. [Isaiah Thomas] back…we’ll be fine though.”
The Cavs played without point guard and former Celtics All-Star and fan favorite, Isaiah Thomas, who received an ovation from the sold out Boston Garden crowd during the second quarter. Thomas made his season debut during the team’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers the night before and is still recovering from a hip injury he suffered as a member of the Celtics during last season’s Eastern Conference finals series against the Cavs.
The best team in the East simply gave it their all against the best player in the NBA as six Celtics scored in double figures led by Terry Rozier’s 20 points off the bench.
“We’re playing at the highest level being in the NBA when you get an opportunity to play against [Lebron], you want to take advantage of that opportunity,” Irving calmly said, “Obviously they don’t have other guys and for us we’re just getting back into what were trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish as a team in terms of figuring out lineups and stuff like that so I’m pretty sure we’ll have a better sense of both teams on February 11th.”
A rematch between the two teams is set for next month in Boston where former All-Star forward Paul Pierce will become the 22nd Celtics player to have his jersey number retired.