LeBron James leads a Cavaliers surge

LeBron James had 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, Mo Williams scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Cleveland Cavaliers surged past the Boston Celtics, 108-88, on Thursday night.

James kept the Cavaliers in it for three quarters on a night they lost Shaquille O’Neal to a first-half thumb injury.

Ray Allen scored 21 points for the Celtics, who badly missed injured All-Star Paul Pierce (right thumb), when their offense went stagnant in the final 1 1/2 quarters.

O’Neal’s injury was deemed a “significant” right thumb sprain by the team.

-- associated press