BOSTON _ They didn't know the plays. The offensive sets were limited to a few basics. They'd had only one practice.
But the four new Cavaliers proved they didn't need practice to show off their shooting skills, although ex-Cav now-Laker Isaiah Thomas still might beg to differ.
Guards Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson and George Hill and forward Larry Nance Jr. provided a 49-point punch to the attack as the Cavs rolled past the Boston Celtics 121-99 Sunday at TD Garden.
Nance, and guards Hill, Clarkson and Hood donned Cavs jerseys for the first time since being acquired in three trades with four teams at Thursday's deadline and provided immediate help.
The Cavs (33-22) won for the sixth time in their past nine games. After losing a string of eight consecutive games on national television, the Cavs won their second in a row.
The East-leading Celtics (40-18) have lost three of their past four games.
Hill, from the Sacramento Kings, started at point guard and scored 12 points.
Standing 6-foot-8 and 206 pounds and a left-handed shooter traded by the Jazz, Hood finished with 15 points. Ex-Lakers Clarkson and Nance contributed 17 and five, respectively, and Nance added four rebounds and three assists.
Hill, Clarkson and Hood combined to make 8-of-14 3-pointers.
Participating in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star festivities next weekend, Nance notched his first dunk with 10:57 to go. Nance's father Larry Sr. played for the Cavs from 1987-94 and had his No. 22 jersey retired in 1995.
The new Cavs combined for 22 points at halftime, with Hood leading the way with eight, followed by Hill with seven, Clarkson with six and Nance with one. They had also totaled three rebounds and three assists.
The atmosphere was electric with the crowd awaiting the postgame retirement of Paul Pierce's No. 34 jersey. Among the Celtics greats in attendance were Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Doc Rivers, the Clippers coach who directed the Celtics to the 2008 championship.
But as the Cavs pulled away in the second half, some of that magic was snuffed. And Hill, Hood and Clarkson played a major part in that, along with Cavs star LeBron James.
James had his run-ins with Pierce, especially during Pierce's 15 years in Boston, and Pierce's big night might have served as motivation for James. James scored 24 points with eight rebounds and 10 assists in 28 minutes, making 9-of-20 from the field and 2-for-5 from long range.
Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, traded by the Cavs on Aug. 22, totaled 18 points, three rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes. He shot 7-of-14 from the floor and just 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
James limped a short distance to the Cavs bench with 5:04 left in the first quarter after being called for charging on a drive to the basket. But James returned with 8:58 to go in the second quarter and made his first shot. He pumped in 13 points in that period, giving him 17 points, five rebounds and six assists at the break.
James also appeared to hurt a finger on his left hand with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter, but he stayed in the game and it didn't seem to affect his performance.
The Celtics committed seven turnovers in the second quarter as the Cavs opened a 13-point lead, which they stretched to 26 in the third.
J.R. Smith also continued his resurgence. Smith scored 15 points and made 6-of-7 shots 3-of-4 from long range. He added six rebounds, one assist and two blocked shots and also dunked in the first quarter.
Rookie Cedi Osman started his second consecutive game for the Cavs and totaled 12 points and five rebounds.
