LeBron James scored 12 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Boston 101-93 in the opener of their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series. James, nagged by a strained right elbow and bone bruise, added seven assists and seven rebounds. "Throughout the game it loosened up," James said. "I have a `No Excuse' policy ... I can't come out here saying, `My elbow. My elbow."'

James confirmed before the game that he has been selected the league's Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row, only the 10th player to do so after Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash. "To be in that class ... is great," James said.Mo Williams added 20 points for Cleveland, who will host Game 2 of the best-of- seven series tomorrow (HK time).

James scored after a rebound of his own miss to give Cleveland a 94-91 lead with three minutes 23 seconds to play. Kevin Garnett answered for Boston to trim the deficit to one point but the Celtics would not score again. James hit another basket and, after Boston's Paul Pierce missed a three-point shot, Shaquille O'Neal scored to make it 98-93. Rajon Rondo had 27 points for the Celtics, who led 54-43 at half-time.