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James, 3 other Cavs starters not playing vs. Celts

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BOSTON (AP) With the No. 2 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference clinched, LeBron James and three other starters are not playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Boston Celtics.

Coach David Blatt says James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith will not play Sunday.

The Celtics began the game with a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a win and an Indiana loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday night. Boston was tied with Brooklyn for seventh place in the East and has the tiebreaker over the Nets.

When Boston played in Cleveland on Friday night, Irving sat out with a sore hip while James and Love didn't play in the fourth quarter.

Blatt said all four would play Monday night against Detroit in Cleveland's next to last game of the regular season.

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