Boston won the season series over Detroit, two games to one.
"Before [the season began], people thought it'd be us and Detroit in the Eastern finals, and we believed that too," Rivers said. "We just wanted it to start at home in Boston. They are a great team. Flip Saunders is a great coach. They've been together longer.
"They've been through all the wars longer. Having gone through these two [rounds] has to have helped us a little bit, too. It will be a good series."
Boston is now 8-0 in the postseason at the Garden, but it also is 0-6 on the road.
"We knew this was going to be a tough, tough series," forward Paul Pierce said. "You got to understand Cleveland is a team that has been to the [NBA] Finals from a year ago, so they know what it's like to make a run through the playoffs, and we knew they weren't going to be no easy knockout. You kind of expected the game to be like this."
Said Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, "I am proud of my team and hurt at the same time."
On May 22, 1988, one of the most memorable shootouts in NBA history occurred when Celtics star Larry Bird scored 34 points and the Hawks' Dominique Wilkins had 47 in a Game 7 in an Eastern Conference semifinal series in Boston. Just like yesterday, the Celtics finished with a victory, 118-116.
What may be soon seen as "The Shootout Part II" took place yesterday, as two All-Stars dueled it out in Pierce and Cleveland's LeBron James. Pierce had 41 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the field, four 3-pointers, 11 made free throws, and 5 assists in 44 minutes. James had a game-high 45 points on 14-of-29 shooting, three 3-pointers, 14 made free throws, and 6 assists.
"Neither one of us wanted our teams to lose. Just to be a part of something like this and be on the winning side of it is a great feeling, man," Pierce said.
"[Pierce] played extremely well and that's the reason why they're going to the next round and we're not," said James.
After stealing the ball from Pierce, James's fast-break dunk sliced Boston's lead to 89-88 with 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Celtics reserve forward P.J. Brown (10 points, 6 rebounds) followed with a 20-foot jumper with 1:21 remaining to push his team ahead, 91-88.
