BOSTON, MA — Maalingaw na binuksan ng defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers ang 71st NBA 2016-2017 Eastern Conference finals series nang bambuhin ang Boston Celtics 117-104 sa likod ng 38 points ni LeBron James at career playoff high 32 ni Kevin Love kahapon (Manila time).

Galing man sa 10-day break, walang senyales ng pangalawang ang Cavaliers sa pagposte ng wire-to-wire win sa Boston sa Boston Garden Arena rito.

“Starting the game, LeBron really controlled the tempo, really set the tone ­early,” bulalas ni Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue . “He’s playing at a high level right now, and that’s the reason we’re riding him so much.”

Game two sa Garden din bukas (oras din sa Maynila) bago gumawi ang best-of-seven series sa Cleveland para sa games three at four.

“Amazing, but he’s better than when I first got into the league,” komento ni Celtics fourth-year coach Brad Stevens kay James.

Dominado ng Cavaliers ang opening tipoff. Nakapagpundar ng 26-point lead sa first half at pinalawig pa sa 28 sa third quarter bago nagunting ng Celtics sa 17 sa end ng quarter.

Pumukol ang nangangarap ng kanyang seventh straight NBA finals na si James ng 15 sa fourth period tungo sa kanya ring seventh straight 30-point game. ­Mayroon din siyang nine rebounds at seven assists.

Giniit niyang kung magseseryosong maglaro lang ang Cavaliers, mas ­magiging matinik sila.

“I don’t even think we played that great tonight,” ani James. “We definitely didn’t shoot the ball as well as we’re capable of shooting it. I think the energy and the effort and mindset was where it needed to be starting on the road, especially in the Eastern Conference Finals.”

Nakakalawit pa si Love ng 12 rebounds. Nagbakas si Tristan Thompson ng 20 points at nine rebounds, at nagtala si Kyrie Irving ng 11 points at six assists.

“Tonight was another one of those games where I made a couple plays to help us get a win, but it was definitely our two bigs (Love and Thompson who) set the tone,” hirit pa ni James. “They were phenomenal.”

Nanguna sa Celtics sina Avery Bradley at Jae Crowder na may 21 points apiece.

Na-check ng Cavs si Isaiah Thomas sa pagtapos ng 17 points at 10 assists. Siya’y may seven of 19 sa floor, at two of seven beyond the arc.

Ang tagumpay ang ika-12 sunod ng Cavaliers sa playoffs, isa na lang para mapantayan ang NBA record noong 1988-89 Los Angeles Lakers, mula pa noong isang taong finals.