PITTSBURGH — The defending champion Boston Celtics had four proven NBA players on the floor down the stretch. The Cavaliers had one, at most, in training camp invitee Ronald Dupree, and even he has only an outside chance of making the team.
That could be why Boston emerged with a 90-86 exhibition victory Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center, where Cleveland coach Mike Brown went with Dupree, fellow camp invitees Jawad Williams and Vernon Hamilton and draft picks J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson down the stretch.
The Cavs (0-3) had a chance to force overtime, but Hamilton’s drive was blocked by Leon Powe, and Eddie House made two free throws with 2.2 seconds left to seal the deal for Boston (3-1).
“Most of the guys on the floor for the Celtics played in the finals,” Brown said of Powe, House, Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Tony Allen. “To see what our guys could do against them was great.”
With Ben Wallace (back) and Sasha Pavlovic (ankle) not in uniform, the Cavs started Wally Szczerbiak and Anderson Varejao along with LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Mo Williams.
That was only to keep the Pittsburgh fans happy, as James (12 points in 18 minutes) and Ilgauskas (five points, six rebounds in 14 minutes) didn’t play in the second half and Szczerbiak (four points in nine minutes) and Williams (two points in nine minutes) saw no action after the first period.
Kevin Garnett (11 points, seven boards in 20 minutes), Paul Pierce (14 points in 21 minutes) and Ray Allen (15 points in 23 minutes) played only slightly more for the Celtics, setting the stage for reserves to show their stuff.
Williams, who went undrafted out of North Carolina, and Jackson, a second-round pick out of Kansas, did a lot of good things — and some bad — for the Cavs.
Williams had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and impressed Brown with his defense, which could go a long way toward helping him earn the only available roster spot over Hamilton and Dupree.
“Yes, he did,” Brown said quickly when asked if the St. Edward High product helped himself. “Not only with his ability to score. He showed he was willing to defend. I’m not sitting here saying Jawad can guard Paul Pierce or Ray Allen, but he had the opportunity to defend them tonight.”
Williams did a little of everything in the third quarter, when he poured in 11 points. Of course, between his two offensive flurries, he shot two airballs. He also was 0-of-4 at the line on the night as the Cavs went 23-of-40 as a team (.575).
Jackson, who helped Kansas win the national championship as a senior, had eight points — all on nice-looking perimeter jumpers — and three rebounds. He also was in solid defensive position a number of times, though he did fail to come up with rebounds on that end on several occasions.
“He’s been polished (in college),” Brown said. “He’s played in big games against a lot of guys he’s going to see at this level.”
Rookie J.J. Hickson, who has been struggling to pick up Brown’s defensive concepts, also made strides and finished with eight points and seven rebounds.
Brown was most pleased, however, with his team’s improved defense, as Boston scored just 60 points after the first period, including 17 in the second quarter and 18 in the fourth.
“Yes, sir, by far,” Brown said when asked if it was the Cavs’ best defensive game. “We were definitely better than we were in the first two games. I’m excited to see that.”
The Cavs led 49-47 after a first half that featured 57 free throws and virtually no flow.
During one sequence in the first period, Cleveland, attempting to push the pace, made turnovers on three straight possessions — two by James and one by Szczerbiak — that led to six quick Boston points and prompted Brown to call timeout to lecture his troops.
Mistakes like that — and 12 smooth points by Ray Allen — allowed the Celtics to grab a 30-21 lead after one, but Cleveland reserves picked up the defensive intensity in the second period.
Boston, which was also playing reserves, had just four points in the first 5:50 of the second quarter and made only four field goals in the period.
“We got better,” James said. “In the preseason, that’s what you want to do.”

Tip-ins

James got bumped in the chest following a dunk by Boston rookie Bill Walker in Cleveland’s exhibition game Friday in Providence, R.I.
“He plays with a little chip on his shoulder,” James said prior to Tuesday’s game. “You can see it in the preseason already. He’s a good kid, I guess.”
James then smiled and added, “I ain’t forgot it.”
• Point guard Delonte West has now been absent from the team 12 days attending to personal matters.
Brown said “it may” get to the point where he tells West it’s time to rejoin the team, but “right now it’s not to that point.”
• Brown does not know if Pavlovic and Wallace will play Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena when the Cavaliers host San Antonio.
• Former Cav Darius Miles is in camp with the Celtics and has a guaranteed contract that will pay him a little more than $1 million.
• Former NBA point guard Haywoode Workman officiated Tuesday’s game.
• During a second-quarter timeout, two youngsters spun around with their heads on a bat, then had to make a layup. One did it with no problem. The other face-planted, suffered a bloody nose, had to be helped from the court and was still receiving medical treatment late in the half.
• Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was seated in the first row near midcourt. He left midway through the third period.
Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net. 

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