Kevin Garnett scored 28 points to make up for an off night for the rest of Boston's Big Three, while James was held to 12 points on 2-for-18 shooting. He missed on three drives and a three-pointer in the final minute.

James scored Cleveland's first basket and then missed his next 10 shots before driving for a layup that cut Boston's lead to 66-65 with 5 minutes, 34 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

He then missed his last six shots, including a potential game-tying finger roll that bounced off the inside of the rim with 8.5 seconds left. James scored just two points in the second half while finishing with nine rebounds, nine assists and 10 turnovers.

Rajon Rondo scored all 15 of his points in the first half, and Kendrick Perkins grabbed 12 rebounds for the Celtics. Paul Pierce drew two charging fouls while guarding James but scored just four points on 2-for-14 shooting, and Ray Allen (0-for-4) didn't score.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 31 percent and couldn't make a basket at the end of the game.

Boston led 68-65 when Cleveland's Daniel Gibson hit a three-pointer to tie the score with 3:18 left.

Ilgauskas made a jumper on a feed from James with 90 seconds left, then Garnett hit a fallaway to make it 70-70. James drove against Pierce and flopped to the court while throwing up a desperation layup that wasn't close.

Boston's Sam Cassell made two free throws to make it 72-70; James missed again, but this time Ilgauskas was there to tip the ball in and tie the game. Garnett moved across the lane to give Boston back the lead, 74-72, and Cleveland called a timeout with 22 seconds left.

James dribbled at the point before finding a lane to the basket, but his shot wouldn't fall and James Posey was fouled after grabbing the rebound. He hit both free throws.

James then missed a long but meaningless jumper to punctuate his night.

Noteworthy

League president Joel Litvin also said the disputed shot, which gave Detroit a 78-76 lead in its 100-93 victory, could not have been replayed after a clock malfunction was discovered.

"After reviewing the video of last night's Pistons-Magic game, we determined that the play that concluded with Chauncey Billups' three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter took approximately 5.7 seconds," Litvin said in a statement. "Because there were only 5.1 seconds remaining in the quarter when the play began, the shot would not have counted had the clock continued to run.

"The referees followed proper procedure in addressing the clock malfunction by estimating the elapsed time and using their judgment as to whether the shot was taken in time. Under NBA rules, the referees did not have the option of using instant replay and a timing device to determine exactly how much time had elapsed, nor do the rules allow for a replay after a clock malfunction is discovered."

* Rick Carlisle could be announced as the new coach of the Dallas Mavericks by Friday, ESPN.com reported, citing NBA sources.

Donnie Nelson, the Mavs' president of basketball operations, told ESPN.com the sides were "making significant progress'' in contract negotiations. *