The Eastern Conference's premier powers will stage a rematch of last season's heated seven-game conference semifinal and a possible preview of what could come this spring. Boston beat Cleveland, 90-85, in its home opener, when the Celtics raised their 17th title banner beforehand as the Cavaliers waited in their locker room.
"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."
James, who rested the entire fourth quarter against Charlotte, expects Boston to bounce back soon after the Celtics lost last night for the sixth time in eight games.
"It's not the end of the world they've lost a few. They'll get it together," he said. "I bet they won't come in here on Friday sluggish."
Daniel Gibson and Wally Szczerbiak scored 15 apiece and Anderson Varejao had 14 as Cleveland shot 60 percent from the floor against Charlotte, which is 0-3 against the Cavaliers this season, losing by an average of 22 points.
Raymond Felton paced Charlotte with 15 points and Gerald Wallace contributed 14. The Bobcats were coming off an overtime win over the Celtics Tuesday night.
"We never competed a lick," coach Larry Brown said. "There's some players that some of our guys play against they don't think they have a chance . . . You don't expect to win. The first minute of the game, you look out there and feel like you've got no chance. It's disappointing."
The Cavaliers raced to a 12-point lead in the opening minutes as James drove to the basket at will. He finished with 15 points in the first quarter on 7-of-10 shooting.
Magic 106, Hawks 102 - Dwight Howard had 23 points and 19 rebounds, helping Orlando pull out a road win over Atlanta after squandering most of a 21-point lead.
The Magic caught a huge break when Mike Bibby missed a breakaway layup that would have pulled the Hawks within 2 points with just under 1 1/2 minutes remaining. The Magic went nearly five minutes without scoring in the final period.
