Los Angeles  - Paul Pierce stepped up, and the Boston Celtics tightened up the Eastern Conference race.

Pierce scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half, and the Celtics bounced the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 105-94 on Friday night in a battle of the East's elite.

"For us to get this win is huge," Pierce said, "because we're both playing for first-place in the Eastern Conference and for home-court advantage."

Reigning NBA champion Boston (49-14) pulled within percentage points of Cleveland (48-13) for the top spot in the East while improving to 2-1 in the head-to-head series.

The final meeting is at Cleveland on April 12, and could decide home-court advantage in the playoffs, if the teams finish the regular-season with identical records.

Besides starring on the offensive end, Pierce "held" LeBron James to 21 points on just 5-of-15 field goal shooting.

"I wanted to run him into my help, take away his easy transition buckets and not let him get any demoralizing dunks that really gets his team going," Pierce said. "If we can make him beat us from outside we'll live with that."

Backup centre Leon Powe had 20 points with 11 rebounds - both season highs - while Ray Allen scored all 17 of his in the second half as the Celtics won despite playing their seventh straight game without All-Star Kevin Garnett (right knee sprain).

Mo Williams scored 26 and Anderson Varejao added 15 for Cleveland, which had won four in a row and nine of its previous 10.

"Boston is a great team, because they buy into the system" James said. "A lot of teams can't afford to lose an All-Star like KG. But they have two more superstars (Pierce and Allen) that can keep up the tempo."

Over the last 15 meetings between the Cavs and Celtics, including last year's playoffs, the home team has won all 15 games.

"That's unbelievable," James said. "Somebody is going to have to get a win on someone else's home court, and that'll break it open."

The Celtics led 54-48 early in the third quarter when tempers flared. Boston's Glen "Big Baby" Davis was ejected with a flagrant 2 foul after collaring and throwing down Varejao with both hands to prevent a layup.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas rushed over to Davis to play the peacemaker, while Allen and James jawed at each other.

After the Cavs knotted the game at 57, Pierce scored eight points, including a pair of three-pointers, and Allen added six with a triple of his own as the Celtics carried a 78-69 advantage into the final frame.

The Cavs cut a 13-point deficit to 90-83 midway through the final frame, but the Celtics responded with a game-sealing 8-0 run. Pierce had a layup and two free throws, and Powe had a pair of dunks, opening up a 98-83 with 3:47 remaining.  (dpa)