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Pierce, Celtics stymie Cavs in battle for Eastern supremacy

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Paul Pierce carried the short-handed Celtics with 29 points and nine assists and Leon Powe stepped up with a season-best 20-point, 11-rebound effort, as Boston took a step forward in the battle for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a thorough 105-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Both teams came in sporting 48 wins, with Cleveland fractions of a point ahead for the top spot in the conference with two less defeats.

But Boston, without All-Star forward Kevin Garnett, shot a sizzling 54.2 percent from the floor, dished out 31 helpers on 45 made field goals and got help from the TD Banknorth Garden crowd to gain an early edge for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

Ray Allen added 17 points, while Rajon Rondo shook off an early right ankle injury to orchestrate the offense with 10 assists, as the Celtics moved to 5-2 in this recent stretch without Garnett.

LeBron James made just 5-of-15 from the field, finishing with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, as his rough night was summed up in a missed fastbreak dunk in the first quarter.

Mo Williams paced the Cavs with 26 points, while Anderson Varejao chipped in 15 in the club's second loss in 11 games.

The Celtics lead the season series, 2-1, with an ever-so-important April 12th meeting in Cleveland lurking in the final week of the regular season.

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