BOSTON (Reuters) – The Cleveland Cavaliers ended a three-year losing streak in Boston with a 108-88 rout over their Eastern Conference rivals on Thursday.

LeBron James scored 36 points and dished out nine assists to help the Cavaliers snap a nine-game losing run at the TD Garden with their first road win over the Celtics since 2007.

Cleveland (45-14) dominated the second half by a 60-32 margin despite losing Shaquille O’Neal in the second quarter, when the starting center sprained his thumb and did not return.

Boston played without leading scorer Paul Pierce, also nursing a thumb injury, but Ray Allen picked up the slack with a team-high 21 points and Rajon Rondo recorded 19 and 11 assists to lead the home team.

The Celtics (36-20) led for most of the first three quarters but managed just 14 points in the final period as the Cavs pulled away.
Mo Williams scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland.

Williams made four three-pointers as the Cavs outscored the Celtics 35-14 in the final period.

Cleveland improved to 20-10 on the road, tying Boston for the best in the NBA, and avenged a 95-89 home defeat on the opening night of the season.

Since then Cleveland have taken control in the Eastern Conference, opening a 5 1/2-game lead over Orlando with Boston 7 1/2 games adrift in a tie with Atlanta.

Boston dominated the first quarter, but Cleveland stepped up their defence in the second half.

Ray Allen scored 21 points, while Rajon Rondo had 19 points and 11 assists for the Celtics, who missed injured All-Star Paul Pierce (right thumb) in the second half – when Cleveland outscored Boston 60-32.

After trailing through most of the first three quarters, Cleveland surged in the fourth. A basket from Williams with nine minutes to play gave them a 79-78 lead that they never relinquished.

NBA Results
Milwaukee 112, Indiana 110
Cleveland 108, Boston 88
Denver 127, Golden State 112