LAS VEGAS - The Boston Celtics look like a completely different team away from TD Banknorth Garden, evidenced by their 108-94 loss at Cleveland during Saturday’s Game 3. The combined 202 points flew ‘over’ the 180-point closing total, ending a string of three straight ‘under’ games between the Cavs and Celts.

Cleveland, easily covering the spread as a two-point home favorite, now trails this best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1.

Despite a continued shooting slump, LeBron James was glad to be home. James scored 21 points despite shooting just 5-of-16 from the field. However, he contributed in other areas by recording eight assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

Cleveland also got 21 points from Delonte West and 16 points from Wally Szczerbiak. The Cavs shot 54 percent from the field (37-of-69), including 10-of-19 from the arc. Boston was 30-of-74 from the floor (40.8 percent) and 5-of-16 from three-point range.

Many of Cleveland’s open shots were set up by James, who continued to prove he is one of the game’s best passing forwards. But it's his poor shooting that had been a topic of discussion in the opening two contests of the series.

The 23-year-old James entered Saturday's game hitting just 19 percent from the field. He missed a potential game-tying layup in Game 1 and looked deplorable from the perimeter during the blowout loss in Game 2.

As a result, Boston improved its record to 6-0 SU at home in the playoffs before dropping to 0-4 SU away from the parquet on Saturday.

Staring in the face of a boisterous crowd at Quicken Loans Arenas - much like the one at Atlanta's Philips Arena in the first round - the Celtics seemed overwhelmed from the start.

James played to the frenzied crowd after a steal by West led to his high-flying tomahawk jam to give the Cavaliers an early eight-point lead with 6:46 left in the first.

James, who was 3-of-5 from beyond the arc Saturday, then nailed a deep 3-pointer to make it 27-8 with 1:52 left in the quarter en route to a 32-13 lead at the end of one.

The two baskets represented the difference between home and away for James, who could not free himself for an easy basket or hit an outside shot in Boston.

Boston got as close as 12 points on two free throws from Paul Pierce in the third quarter, but Cleveland scored six of the next eight to take control of the contest.

The Celtics' key contributors seemed either ineffective or hesitant. Ray Allen and Pierce combined to score 24 points on just 7-of-20 shooting.

With Allen and Pierce struggling, the Cavaliers' West dared Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo to shoot by sagging off the second-year player and playing as a roaming help defender for much of the game. Rondo did not respond, scoring seven points on 3-of-10 shooting.

Cleveland’s Ben Wallace (virus), who was a game-time decision in Game 3, started and recorded nine points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes. Joe Smith tied career playoff highs in points with 21 and 17, respectively.

Home court advantage seemed to show up at the free-throw line in Game 3, as Cleveland was 24-of-33 from the charity stripe compared to Boston’s 19-of-24. The Cavs had 11 more assists than the Celts (29-18) and out-rebounded the Celts, 49-41.

The Cavs have now won seven straight games at home against the Celtics and are 18-7 since the 1995-96 campaign (playoffs and regular season).

Boston guard Ray Allen now is 8-of-26 from the field, including 1-11 from the three-point line during the three games this series. Guard Rajon Rondo, who tied a Celtics' record for most assists in a playoff debut, had zero assists and shot just 3-of-10 from the field in Game 3.

May 12, 2008