• Recap
• Bleachers

James sits out as Cavaliers beat Celtics

Oct 14, 2006 - 2:51 AM MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers proved they didn't need LeBron James to win a game.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes scored 14 points apiece as the Cavaliers posted a 91-82 victory over the Celtics for their first victory of the preseason.

Cleveland played without James, who sat out due to a coach's decision. The fourth-year superstar watched from the bench in street clothes.

Boston also finished the contest without its best player as Paul Pierce suffered a left hip contusion midway through the third quarter. Coach Doc Rivers says his All-Star swingman is listed as day-to-day.

The Cavaliers trailed by three after the first quarter but held the Celtics to 10 points in the second period to take a 42-37 halftime lead. Hughes led Cleveland with 11 first-half points. The 10-year veteran shot 5-of-9 from the field, including 2-of-2 from 3-point range.

Ilgauskas scored eight points in the second half and was 7-of-11 from the floor overall. Anderson Varejao pulled down 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 48 percent (36-of-75).

Wally Szczerbiak scored 21 points and Sebastian Telfair added 16 and seven assists for the Celtics, who shot 39 percent (29-of-75).