Garnett paces Celts to victory in Game 5

May 15, 2008

Someone is going to have to win in Boston to keep the Celtics from winning their 17th NBA title.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping for one more chance.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 13 assists, and the Celtics beat the Cavaliers, 96-89, last night to move within a win of the Eastern Conference finals.

Paul Pierce scored 29 and helped shut down LeBron James for much of the second half to give Boston a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven semifinals. James scored 23 of his 35 points in the first half and was mostly quiet in the second before scoring six in the final 3:26 after Boston was well in the lead.

Game 6 is tomorrow in Cleveland.

"It's a win or go home situation now," said James, who shot 12-for-25 but was 4-for-11 in the second half. "A LeBron James team is never desperate."

Cleveland cut an 88-77 lead to six points with two minutes left and made it 91-87 with 46 seconds to play. Pierce hit five free throws in the final 16 seconds.

"This momentum, and what we did here tonight," Garnett said, "we've got to figure a way to carry this on the road."

Tuesday night

• Hornets 101, Spurs 79 // David West had career playoff highs of 38 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots, lifting host New Orleans to a 3-2 lead in the West series. The Hornets' Tyson Chandler left early in the fourth quarter with a bruised left foot. Meanwhile, a trainer put an ice pack on West's back in the final minutes as the All-Star grimaced in pain. Coach Byron Scott said he did not expect either of them to miss Game 6 tonight.

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Garnett paces Celts to victory in Game 5

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Garnett paces Celts to victory in Game 5

Related topic galleries: Boston Celtics, National Basketball Association, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Major League Baseball, Paul Pierce, Tyson Chandler

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