BOSTON, MA - APRIL 24: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Image: Getty)
Terry Rozier scored a game-high 20 points off the bench on 8-of-12 shooting to propel the Boston Celtics to a 102-88 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum added 15 points each, and Jaylen Brown contributed 14 points. Rozier added four rebounds and three assists, while Kyrie Irving struggled with his shot but still finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Cavs All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas was kept out of the lineup for rest after returning from injury to make his season debut Tuesday night, when he scored 17 points in 19 minutes.
Cleveland also lost Kevin Love to an ankle injury after just 21 minutes of play Wednesday. The power forward managed to score only two points on 1-of-11 shooting.
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LeBron James led the Cavs with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
With the victory, the Celtics (31-10) now have a 4.5-game lead over the Cavs (25-13) for first place in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is third behind the second-place Toronto Raptors.
The Celtics next host Minnesota on Friday night, while the Cavs will visit Orlando on Saturday.
Kevin Durant and Draymond Green both had double-doubles in the Golden State Warriors’ 125-122 victory over the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday. Steph Curry scored 32 points, including the game-winning 3 in his second game back from ankle injury.
New York Knicks star forward Kristaps Porzingis scored 16 points off just 5-of-13 shooting with six rebounds and three turnovers in a 121-103 loss to the Washington Wizards.
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 24: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter of Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts.
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