By Chris Bernucca

May 12, 2008: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
LeBron James and Paul Pierce tumbled into the expensive seats Monday, prompting a response from Gloria James - and a sharp retort from her son.
Allan Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
Kobe Bryant "I'll be ready to play. I can't imagine it being any worse than it was last night."
-- Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant on his status for Game 5 vs. Utah. On the day he was named to the All-Defensive Team, Bryant met the media Monday with an eletronic stimulator hooked up to his sore back.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Monday's top play: LeBron James does not consider his fellow man on this dunk.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Block of the Night
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  • Assist of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    Jameer Nelson Dizzy Dean once famously said, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it." But that's a big if for Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, who adamantly refuses to back off his guarantee of a Game 5 victory. One way Nelson can make good on his words is step up his game. He has a solid postseason PRA of 25.5, but our resident Drive to the Finals expert will be looking for considerably more production Tuesday, when Orlando returns to Detroit with its season on the line.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Anderson Varejao Anderson Varejao, Cavaliers
    88-77 win vs. Celtics
    12 pts, 6-8 FG

    Daniel Gibson, Cavaliers
    88-77 win vs. Celtics
    14 pts, 5-9 FG, 2-4 3-pt FG

    Wally Szczerbiak, Cavaliers
    88-77 win vs. Celtics
    14 pts, 6-11 FG, 2-4 3-pt FG
    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    LeBron James We know LeBron James hasn't exactly lit it up in the conference semifinals. In fact, his 7-of-20 showing Monday actually raised his shooting percentage for the series to .256 - which only looks good alongside the numbers of his neighbors on Ontario Street. But "The King" filled in elsewhere quite nicely with 13 assists, six rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks as Cleveland pulled into a 2-2 tie with Boston.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Paul Pierce Paul Pierce, Celtics
    88-77 loss at Cavaliers
    13 pts, 6-17 FG, 0-3 3-pt FG

    Sam Cassell, Celtics
    88-77 loss at Cavaliers
    4 pts, 0-5 FG

    Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers
    88-77 win vs. Celtics
    9 pts, 3-10 FG
    CELTICS ON THE ROAD TO RUIN?
    Doc Rivers Right now, the Boston Celtics must be wondering what else can go wrong on the road. During the regular season, the Celtics were 31-10 on the road, which was by far the best mark in the league and better than the home records of all but five teams. But Boston is the only team still playing that has yet to win away from home, making the trek toward a prospective 17th NBA title an arduous one. In Monday's Game 4 loss at Cleveland, the Celtics were held to playoff road low, including just 12 in the decisive fourth quarter. Superstar Kevin Garnett was frustrated by the defense of Anderson Varejao and scored just two points in the second half; Garnett and fellow All-Star Ray Allen were shut out in the final period. Yes, the Celtics are unbeaten at home and return to TD Banknorth Garden for Game 5. But the longer they are unable to break through at on the road, the greater the pressure becomes to win at home. As coach Doc Rivers put it, "We just can't go home and assume. We have to go home and play."
    BOMBS AWAY FOR BOOBIE
    Daniel Gibson As a rookie, Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was one of the breakout performers of the 2007 postseason. This season, he used the national stage of used All-Star Weekend to remind anyone who forgot that he could still stroke it. But Gibson's shooting touch had deserted him in the first three games of the conference semifinals. In two games in Boston, he was just 2-of-8. Back home for Game 3, he scored just three points. But that all changed in Game 4 on Monday, when "Boobie" rediscovered his rhythm. Overall, Gibson scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. But he did some serious damage in the fourth quarter, draining a fadeaway jumper early in the period, a 3-pointer at the 8:45 mark to give Cleveland a 74-69 lead and another 3-pointer to extend the margin to 82-75 with 2:38 to go. The Celtics have spent the series ganging up on LeBron James, chasing the ball out of his hands with double-teams and daring other Cavaliers to beat them. Gibson finally appears ready to fill that role.