Associated Press
BOSTON ó Banner No. 17 is up in the rafters, and win No. 1 is in the books.
NBA finals MVP Paul Pierce scored 27 points as the defending champion Boston Celtics followed an emotional ring ceremony and banner raising with a 90-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. LeBron James scored 22, but he missed a driving layup with 41 seconds left and two free throws in the last 11 seconds.
In their first meaningful game since beating the Los Angeles Lakers at the new Boston Garden to clinch their record 17th NBA title, the Celtics began the festivities with a 20-minute ceremony to honor the 2007-08 team that brought Pierce to tears.
The Celtics captain ó and the longest-tenured member of the team ó choked up when he was handed the championship trophy from Hall of Famer John Havlicek, and again when he received his ring from owner Wyc Grousbeck. Once all the players had received their gaudy diamond and emerald baubles, Pierce took the lead in pulling the ropes that slid the “2008 World Champions” banner into the rafters among all the others.
The Cavaliers chose not to watch, having been deprived of a chance for a title of their own when they lost to Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. James outscored Pierce 45-41 in that man-on-man shootout, but Pierce’s team got the better of James’ in the series, and again on Tuesday.
Pierce had 11 points in the third quarter, when the Celtics outscored Cleveland 24-13 to take a 67-63 lead. Boston scored 12 of the first 14 points in the third, then the last eight of the quarter to turn a four-point deficit into a four-point lead.
Bulls 108, Bucks 95
CHICAGO ó Derrick Rose elicited oohs, aahs … and groans.Luol Deng and Ben Gordon provided enough big shots to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 108-95 victory over former coach Scott Skiles and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Deng scored 21 points and Gordon added 18 to offset Michael Redd’s 30.
Rose, the No. 1 draft pick out of Memphis and a Chicago native, wowed fans with his quickness and strength but mixed in enough mistakes to remind them he is a work in progress. He finished with 11 points, nine assists and four turnovers.