LeBron James scored 21 points, jamming in a powerhouse dunk over a defenseless Kevin Garnett in the final two minutes, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Celtics, 88-77, in Game 4 last night to tie the best-of-seven series at two games each.

The top-seeded Celtics are 0-5 on the road in the playoffs, having lost three times to Atlanta and twice to Cleveland. Boston was 31-10 on the road during the season.

James survived another weak shooting game, hitting on just 7 of 20 from the field. However, he dominated down the stretch and finished with 13 assists - four in the fourth quarter.

James was on the floor nearly three hours before the game, working on his outside shot with assistant coaches Chris Jent and Lloyd Pierce, who helped him with his jumper off high pick-and-rolls. "Just trying to catch a rhythm," James said about his early arrival.

For the Celtics, Garnett had 15 points. He scored nine of Boston's first 11 points, doing most of his damage from inside the lane. But with Cleveland's Anderson Varejao fronting him, Garnett got few other good looks at the basket. He scored just two points in the second half.

Ray Allen had 15 points and Paul Pierce 13, but the Cavaliers held the Celtics to 12 points in the final period.

James was collared by Pierce on a breakaway attempt in the middle of the second quarter, and the play carried into the crowd. James' mother, Gloria, got in the middle of things and was told by her superstar son to sit down.

Top defenders. Garnett and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant were selected to the All-Defensive Team, along with Denver's Marcus Camby and two players from San Antonio, Bruce Bowen and Tim Duncan.

Garnett, who was previously chosen the NBA's defensive player of the year, and Bryant were the top vote-getters.

The second team: Shane Battier of Houston, Chris Paul of New Orleans, Dwight Howard of Orlando, Tayshaun Prince of Detroit, and Raja Bell of Phoenix.

The 76ers' Samuel Dalembert and Andre Iguodala both received one first-team vote. Noticeably overlooked was Cleveland's Ben Wallace, a five-time first-team selection who got no votes at all.

Billups questionable. The Detroit Pistons didn't know after yesterday's practice whether point guard Chauncey Billups would be able to dress for tonight's Game 5 against the Orlando Magic.

Billups has been out with a hamstring injury; rookie Rodney Stuckey is his replacement.