Celtics can’t handle James in second loss

CLEVELAND -- There’s at least one other big three in the NBA, and this trio isn’t gracing any magazine covers.

LeBron James scored 38 points, Drew Gooden added a season-high 24 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 15 as Cleveland’s threesome outplayed Boston’s heralded triumvirate during a 109-104 victory in overtime on Tuesday night.

James scored 11 points in overtime as the defending Eastern Conference champions dropped the Celtics to 11-2 with one of their best all-around performances of the early season.

James had 13 assists and finished 14 of 15 from the free-throw line, including six of six in overtime. He, Gooden and Ilgauskas outscored Boston’s Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, 77-64.

“We don’t want any tag,” James said. “We don’t want any big three or whatever. We just go out there and do our job. Z is playing career basketball right now, Drew is getting better, and I’m going to do what I have to do for us to win, of course.”

Allen led the Celtics with 29 points on 10-of-25 shooting, but missed two free throws with the score tied at 92-92 late in regulation.

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RESULTS, SCHEDULE

at Chicago 90, Atlanta 78: Luol Deng scored 22 points, Ben Gordon had 21 and the Bulls ended a four-game losing streak by beating the Hawks for the 12th time in a row.

Indiana 112, at Denver 110: Mike Dunleavy scored 30 points, helping send the Nuggets to their third loss in four games after a six-game winning streak.

at Miami 110, Charlotte 90: Coming off the bench instead of starting, Ricky Davis tied a season high with 23 as the Heat ended a four-game losing streak to the Hornets.

Philadelphia 114, at Milwaukee 99: Samuel Dalembert had 22 points and Andre Iguodala and Kyle Korver scored 20 apiece to help hand the Bucks their first home loss (6-1).

Memphis 110, at New Jersey 103: Pau Gasol scored 22 points to help the Grizzlies post consecutive wins for the first time. It took Memphis 73 games last season to do that.

at Cleveland 109, Boston 104 (OT): LeBron James scored 11 of his 38 points in overtime to help hand the Celtics their second loss (11-2).

at Lakers 106, Seattle 99: Kobe Bryant scored 35 points to help the Lakers end a three-game losing streak while extending the SuperSonics’ slide to five games.