CAVS (1-0) 95, CELTICS (1-1) 87
at Quicken Loans Arena
RADIO/TV: WTAM, Fox Sports Ohio
TIME: 7 p.m.

WHAT HAPPENED: A little more than five months after being dumped by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cavs' 2010-11 season kicked off on Wednesday.

The Cavs got a little revenge on Wednesday, despite playing without guard Mo Williams.

It didn't hurt that the Celtics were coming off a hard-fought, 88-80 win over Miami on Tuesday. Catching them on the second leg of a back-to-back set was not a bad thing. The Celtics seemed to wear down and were outscored in the fourth quarter, 27-14.

J.J. Hickson started off like gangbusters and finished with a game-high 21 points.

He said afterward this was a game he thought the Cavs should win. He does know the Celtics have been to two of the last three NBA Finals, doesn't he? They also play the Celtics three more times this year, including twice in Boston.

But Hickson was very good tonight and fought hard against Celtics forward Kevin Garnett.

Guard Daniel Gibson was outstanding with 16 points in the second half. He also had eight assists.

STARTERS
SF Jamario Moon (6-8, 200) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 235)
PF J.J. Hickson (6-9, 242) vs. Kevin Garnett (6-11, 253)
C Anderson Varejao (6-11, 260) vs. Shaquille O'Neal (7-1, 325)
SG Anthony Parker (6-6, 210) vs. Ray Allen (6-5, 205)
PG Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190) vs. Rajon Rondo (6-1, 186)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - G Mo Williams, G Christian Eyenga, F/C Samardo Samuels
Celtics - C Kendrick Perkins, F Luke Harangody, G Avery Bradley
OFFICIALS
Bob Delaney, Michael Smith, Haywoode Workman