LeBron James had 43 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame Paul Pierce’s 50-point performance to beat the host Boston Celtics 113-109 in double overtime on Wednesday night.
Pierce shot 17 for 36 from the field and 16 for 20 from the free-throw line to become the first Celtic to score 50 since Larry Bird had 50 on Nov. 10, 1989.
“I really got into a groove in the second half,” Pierce said. ” It felt good to me. You know, it would have felt a lot better if we would have been on the other side.”
James was outscored by Pierce 17-6 in the fourth quarter and missed a potential game-winning free throw in the closing seconds of the first overtime before redeeming himself in the second overtime. Former Timberwolf Wally Szczerbiak scored 17 points for the Celtics.