CLEVELAND, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- J.J. Hickson scored 21 points Wednesday and Cleveland ended the game on a 13-3 run to defeat Boston 95-87.
The Cavaliers played for the first time since 2002 without LeBron James. Cleveland defeated the team that 24 hours earlier had downed the team James now plays for -- the Miami Heat.
Boston held an 84-82 lead with 4:49 remaining, but Cleveland made the plays down the stretch with six players finishing in double figures.
Hickson hit 8-of-11 from the field, Daniel Gibson had 16 points and Ramon Sessions added 14.
Cleveland opened its season against Boston for the third straight year and the Cavaliers have won on all three occasions. Rajon Rondo led Boston with 18 points and nine assists.
It was a meeting of the teams that met in last year's conference semifinals, a series won by Boston.
