CLEVELAND (AP) – For the second straight season, the Cavaliers’ front office has chosen the catchy slogan – “One for All. All for One” – to help sell tickets, T-shirts and assorted merchandise.

The motto is designed to promote the entire team. It fits LeBron James even better.

The One, indeed.

James scored 36 points for the second game in a row, Larry Hughes added 25 and the Cavaliers stayed the NBA’s hottest team with their eighth straight win, 115-93 over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

The Cavaliers (9-2) improved to 6-0 at home, where they’re not just winning but dominating. Cleveland has won by an average of 21 points per game at the revamped and renamed Quicken Loans Arena. But the Cavs’ improvement on the floor has been the biggest change.

Cleveland last won eight straight games in 1997 when James was in middle school, long before he became an Akron high school legend and All-Star forward. In three years as a pro, he has never been better, and neither have the Cavaliers.

“We’re on a great roll,” James said. “For the first time I feel great because our team is playing real well.”

James is having an affect on the Cavaliers, who are off to their best start since the 1976-77 team also went 9-2.

“We don’t feel like we should lose,” said Hughes, who has quickly become the running mate James never had before as a pro. “That’s LeBron’s mentality and it’s trickling down to everybody.”

Drew Gooden added 13 points and 15 rebounds – his fifth double-double – and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 19 points for the Cavaliers, whose closest game at home was a 15-point win over Washington on Nov. 15.

In their past two games, James and Hughes, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent during the summer, have combined for 134 points.

“I’m not having to call much,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “It’s LeBron, it’s Larry, it’s LeBron, it’s Larry. And everybody else is feeding off those two guys.”

Ricky Davis scored 27 points with 15 rebounds, Paul Pierce had 24 points and Mark Blount 21 for Boston, which was still within 10 points with 6:55 left.

But Hughes drilled a 3-pointer, Eric Snow dropped two free throws and James completed a three-point play as the Cavs pushed their lead to 102-89 with 4:57 left. Safely ahead, Brown then emptied his bench of reserves – something he has been able to do during each home game this season.

A 3-pointer by Davis brought the Celtics within 74-72 in the third quarter, when James took over at point guard and took over the game.

He scored Cleveland’s next 10 points, capping his outburst and a 15-point period by burying a 3-pointer from the top of the key over Dan Dickau and Justin Reed with 1.9 seconds left to give the Cavs a 84-73 lead.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was impressed with James’ all-around game.

“The difference in him now from last year is that he keeps his teammates involved,” Rivers said. “He scored 36 in the flow, and if he was selfish he could have scored 50 and they may have lost.”

In the first half, the Cavaliers lost one of their best outside shooters when point guard Damon Jones sprained his left ankle after banging knees with Davis.

Jones was moving to his left while playing defense against Davis and rolled his ankle when the two got locked up. Jones did not return and is questionable for Thursday’s game at Indiana.

Back-to-back three-point plays by Gooden and James helped the Cavs open a 16-point lead in the second.

quarter. James got ahead on a fast break and was fouled by Pierce, who tried to wrap his arms around Cleveland’s forward.

But James merely muscled up his shot, and after sinking it, he sneered and shook his head several times as a reminder that he’s tough to stop.

“He’s a strong guy and obviously you have to foul him a little harder,” Pierce said.

The Celtics, though, weren’t intimidated and went on a 13-4 run to get back into it before eventually trailing 58-49 at the break.

Notes: Snow had a season-high nine assists. … Celtics G Delonte West sustained a hip pointer in the third quarter and didn’t return. … Rivers admired new murals of former Cleveland All-Stars painted on the walls outside the locker rooms and wondered why their wasn’t a portrait of his uncle, Boston assistant Jim Brewer, who played for the Cavs in the 1970s. “He should be up there,” said Rivers, well versed in Cavs’ history. Rivers even named his second son, Austin James, after Cavs great Austin Carr and Brewer. … Davis played 21/2 seasons in Cleveland, where fans abandoned him after some selfish play and comments. He doesn’t mind hearing fans boo him when he returns. “I like it when they are hard on me,” he said. “It keeps me working.” … Rapper/Rocker Kid Rock sat courtside in the first half.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.