New-Look Cavaliers rout Celtics 121-99 on national TV Sunday

The new look Cavaliers pass their first test with flying colors, routing the Boston Celtics 121-99 Sunday on "Paul Pierce Day". Cleveland’s 121 points were the most any team has scored on the Celtics so far this season.

Lebron James, who shook off a first-quarter leg injury, led the new-look Cavaliers by scoring 24 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, George Hill and Larry Nance, Jr. made their team debuts Sunday, each playing at least 19 minutes and helping the Cavaliers to their most impressive win of the season. Clarkson was especially valuable, scoring 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Hood added 15 points, Hill scored 12 points in his debut, and Nance had five points and four rebounds.

”I know the guys that are here are very excited about this opportunity,” James said. ”It’s my job to as the leader of this team to make sure that I acclimate the new four guys to be around a culture that’s built around winning.”

“It’s almost like the new guys have been here,” James said after the game. “It started with George, his on-the-ball pressure and just running the team, and then the three guys off the bench: Jordan is ready to score at any time, but his composure is great; Rodney plays with so much poise, and Larry was just controlling the rim and setting great pick-and-rolls. “It was a good start for all of us. We’re a revamped team so far.”

The Cavaliers starting unit of Lebron, Hill, Cedi Osman, JR Smith, and Tristan Thompson had a net rating of +33.4. While the Cavs bench unit of Clarkson, Kyle Korver, Hood, Jeff Green, and Nance had a net rating of +20.8. Today's defensive rating of 98.3 for the Cavs was their 8th best of the season and best in over a month.

Overall, the Cavaliers shot 54 percent from the floor, 53 percent from beyond the arc against one of the Association’s stingiest defenses – one that held them to just 35 percent shooting in the previous meeting back on January 3.

“Now we have at least four guys on the floor at any moment that can push the ball on the break, so when we rebound the basketball, we can push out on the break and can make plays,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said after the game.

"The attention to detail was at an all-time high for this season, " James said after the game, per Kevin Parrish Jr. of USA Today.

Terry Rozier scored 21 with nine assists and Kyrie Irving scored 18 against his former team before sitting out the fourth quarter as the game became a blowout. The Celtics have lost three of four to fall behind Toronto in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Sunday's victory gave the Cavs the season series against the Celtics after the teams split their first two meetings.

This was only one game, and much can change between now and the playoffs. The Cavaliers showed energy and a desire to play together and were focused defensively. Cleveland should only continue to improve with more practice and more time to build on-court chemistry. Also, keep in mind, All-Star Kevin Love will come back from his broken hand at some point to offer more offensive firepower and rebounding.

COMING UP FOR THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: The Cleveland Cavaliers (33-22), who have won three straight, visit Oklahoma City on Tuesday for a nationally televised game on TNT. Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.