Thompson has big night as Cavaliers top Celtics

4/6/2013

BOSTON — Tristan Thompson had career highs with 29 points and 17 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers ended a 10-game losing streak with a 97-91 victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday.

Alonzo Gee also had a double- double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who held Boston to 16 points in the third quarter and held on for their first win since March 12.

The Cavaliers avoided their 11th straight loss, which would have been the second-longest streak under coach Byron Scott.

Wayne Ellington scored 12 points and Kyrie Irving added 11 points for Cleveland in his third game back since missing eight with a sprained shoulder.

The Celtics played without team captain Paul Pierce, who was out with a sore ankle.

The move may have cost the slumping Celtics. Boston has dropped eight of 11 and is clinging to the seventh playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jeff Green scored 23 points for Boston, and Shavlik Randolph had 16 points before fouling out with 6:57 left in the fourth. Brandon Bass scored 12, and Avery Bradley had 10 points for Boston.

Cleveland outrebounded Boston 58-42 and outscored the Celtics in the paint 52-38.

The Cavaliers hadn't won since beating Washington 95-90. They held a 14-point lead against the Celtics last week in Cleveland before Boston rallied and won on Green's layup at the buzzer.

Cleveland held on to this lead — firmly. The Celtics never recovered after going without a field goal for more than five minutes in the third quarter.

Cleveland held Boston to 16 points in the third period, going 6 for 22 from the floor. The Celtics started the period well with a 10-3 run for a 62-55 lead, then went without a field goal for the next 5:18. Cleveland outscored Boston 13-1 during the span, with the Celtics' only point coming on a free throw made by Randolph with 4:45 left in the third.

It was Randolph's 14th point, but he missed on his second free throw attempt then had to go to the bench barely a minute later when he was called for his fifth foul. Thompson made both foul shots to put the Cavaliers up 68-63 with 3:19 left in the period. The Cavs scored the first eight points of the fourth.