:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58657193/917080454.jpg.0.jpg)
The revamped Cleveland Cavaliers could not have asked for a better first outing.
On Sunday in Boston, the Cavs took down the Celtics in 121-99 in one of the team’s most ebullient performances to date. Cleveland’s 121 points were the most any team has scored on the Celtics so far this season.
LeBron James led the Cavs with a 24-point. 10-assist, eight-rebound night, but only had to play 28 minutes as he sat out the entire fourth quarter. George Hill scored 12 points in his debut, while Jordan Clarkson scored 17 points on 7-11 shooting off the bench, Rodney Hood added 15 points and Larry Nance Jr. had five points and four rebounds.
Terry Rozier led the Celtics with 21 points. Ex-Cavalier Kyrie Irving had 18 points and five assists for Boston.
The only drama for the Cavs on the day came when James collided knees with Celtics center Aaron Baynes with 5:04 to play in the first quarter. He wouldn’t return until there was 8:58 left in the second quarter. But he returned and proceeded to score 13 points in the second quarter.
Sunday’s game bumped the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference — the top spot now belongs to the Raptors — and puts the Cavs 6.5 games back of the No. 1 seed. Cleveland next plays on Tuesday against the Thunder. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.