LeBron set for Celtics

Cavs' leader expects tough game despite Boston's struggles

When the NBA champion Celtics take the court in Cleveland tonight, LeBron James expects to see the Boston team that opened the season 27-2, not the one that has lost six of its last eight games.

"It's not the end of the world. They've lost a few. They'll get it together," James said. "I bet they won't come in here sluggish."

After scoring 21 points in Cleveland's 111-81 home victory over Charlotte on Wednesday night, James gave a running commentary as he watched the final minutes of Boston's 89-85 loss to Houston on television.

The Cleveland star smiled at a rebound and putback inside by Houston's Yao Ming and questioned a long shot by Rockets guard Rafer Alston.

"What are you doing?" James moaned.

Boston lost at home for the first time since falling to Denver on Nov. 14 -- a loss the Celtics followed with a 19-game winning streak.

"In our last timeout, you could see it in our guys' eyes. Like, 'Shoot, we're going to lose this home game,'" Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "It bothered them. You could see that. And I was thinking, 'That's a good thing.' "

Houston's Von Wafer hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 44 seconds left, and Yao led the Rockets with 26 points and eight rebounds.

In Cleveland, Mo Williams added 15 points, and Cleveland improved to 18-0 at home.

Tonight, the Celtics will arrive for a game pitting the Eastern Conference's premier powers, a rematch of last season's seven-game conference semifinal and a possible tease of what could come this spring. Boston holds a 1-0 edge this season after beating Cleveland 90-85 at home in the opener.

"They got us up there," Williams said. "It's our turn. It's payback time."

It's only January, but it will feel like June.

"I can't sit here and say it's another game," James said. "We're just looking forward to the challenge.

"If we want to be the best team, we have to beat the best. Boston is the best until somebody takes their crown."

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

SPURS 106, CLIPPERS 84: Tony Parker scored 19 points, and host San Antonio notched its ninth win in the past 10 games despite getting only eight points from Tim Duncan.

Los Angeles has lost nine straight, the longest skid in the NBA this season.

MAVERICKS 99, KNICKS 94: Dirk Nowitzki scored only 10 points but was one of six players to score in double figures for host Dallas.

LATE WEDNESDAY

LAKERS 114, WARRIORS 106: Pau Gasol had 33 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as visiting Los Angeles won its seventh in eight games.

TRAIL BLAZERS 84, PISTONS 83: Travis Outlaw hit a fadeaway jumper with 8.9 seconds to go to help host Portland snap Detroit's seven-game winning streak.

NUGGETS 108, HEAT 97: Linas Kleiza and reserve J.R. Smith scored 21 points apiece for host Denver to make up for the absence of leading scorer Carmelo Anthony, out at least three weeks with a fractured finger.

76ERS 110, BUCKS 105: Andre Miller hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left for visiting Philadelphia.

PACERS 113, SUNS 100: Danny Granger hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and finished with a career-high 37 points for visiting Indiana.

JAZZ 116, HORNETS 90: Paul Millsap had 27 points and 14 rebounds for host Utah, extending his NBA-leading double-double streak to 19 games.

NOTE

CARRIL RETURNS: Hall of Fame coach Pete Carril, 78, rejoined the struggling Sacramento Kings as a consultant on Thursday.