LeBron scores season-high 41 points to lift Cavs past Celtics

LeBron James put the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back and helped them squeak past the Boston Celtics on Friday, 122-121. 

The Cavaliers were almost upset, trailing by as many as 19 points - and 17 heading into the fourth quarter - but secured the win after Rajon Rondo failed to get a shot off on the final possession. 

James scored a season-high 41 points, the most he's dropped since erupting for 43 against the Cavaliers last March as a member of the Miami Heat. It marked James' third career 40-plus point game at TD Garden in Boston. 

James beat the Celtics a lot of different ways, nailing 16-of-27 shots from the field, including 3-of-8 from long range. He connected on 6-of-9 shots from the charity stripe and threw down a couple easy slams. 

Kevin Love found James earlier in the game with a full-court outlet pass, something the Cavaliers' power forward has become a pro at. 

Kyrie Irving added 27 points, while Love fought threw a rough shooting night - he was 2-of-10 from the field - to record his fourth double-double of the season with a 12-point, 15-rebound effort. 

The Celtics had seven different players score in double figures, while Rondo dished out a season-high 16 assists, the fifth time in eight games he has recorded 10-plus dimes.

This was perhaps his prettiest one of the night.

The Cavaliers improved to 4-3 with the win, which came on the first night of a back-to-back. Cleveland will head home for a Saturday night tilt against the Atlanta Hawks.