The Cavaliers handed the Celtics their worst loss of the season and they are now one win away from matching the 1985-86 Celtics for best home record. They are also one win away from clinching best record in the League and having home-court throughout the Playoffs.
The Cavaliers have now topped Boston in eight straight regular season games. Overall the home team between Boston and Cleveland has won the last 16 contests including the postseason.
The Cavaliers held Boston to only 9 points in the first quarter. The last time the Cavs held a team to 9 points or fewer in a quarter was in 1999.
“I looked up at the scoreboard one time and they were shooting 15 percent from the floor,” James said. “That’s unbelievable.”
When the Cavs reserves pushed the lead to 30, James, Mo Williams and Delonte West boogied together during a timeout as Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” pumped through the arena. The trio wasn’t shy about things as they mugged for TV cameras to the roaring crowd’s delight.
I’m always going to remember that,” Ray Allen said. “If I beat a team, as happy as I may be in victory, I’m always going to stay humble and always remember that there’s another day. We play each other too much. Those are great motivational thoughts for me.”
James insisted the Cavs weren’t being irreverent toward the league’s most storied franchise.
“We’re not trying to disrespect any team or show up any team,” he said. “We’re all professionals. If you take it as disrespectful, then you got to do something about it.”