Not so in Cleveland. As on many other nights this season when a Celtics game was on television, the Cavaliers lingered in the locker room following their win Wednesday against Charlotte to watch the Rockets finish off the C's.

LeBron James was bundled up, already in his overcoat, but the NBA's most likely player to win this season's MVP simply was another link in the semicircle around the locker room TV.

Then he said something you'll rarely hear from the Celtics side.

``It's not just some other game,'' James said.

And he was speaking from a position of power.

The Cavaliers, now 28-6, moved into first place in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, as the 29-8 Celtics were falling to yet another losing team in Charlotte.

Though the Celtics have religiously adhered to the rule of not looking ahead, they have had due cause to talk about holding onto homecourt advantage.

They would not have reached the NBA Finals without that edge last year.

``Well obviously, this is the team we put out of the playoffs,'' Paul Pierce said of tonight's resumption of a burgeoning rivalry that, for the Celtics, is now second only to their long-distance fight with the Lakers.

``They are the best home team in all of Basketball, so they have been looking forward to this. We're going to get their best punch. We got a chance to play them in our home opener. When you play in a game like this, teams like us want to try to find the edge because we know somewhere down the road we're going to see them in the playoffs.

``We have got to be ready for their best shot. The way they have been playing at home (18-0) has been unbelievable, but the way we are playing, this is a great way to get back on track.''

Indeed, the Celtics have lost six of their last eight games, including three straight and 5-of-6 on the road. They have already fallen the length of a city block from that 19-game winning streak.

James has followed every game as if it involved his own team. Asked before the Celtics' loss at the Lakers on Christmas about the C's schedule, James responded by reciting the slate between then and tonight's game at Quicken Loans Arena.

Following yesterday's practice, James reiterated just how important this game has become for him.

``We know it is not just another game,'' he said. ``We're looking forward to the challenge.''

Part of that anticipation comes from the Celtics' win against Cleveland in the hours following their opening night ring ceremony.

But the hurt and need for revenge, naturally, goes back much further.

``It's still in the back of our mind, but you've got to move on,'' James said of last year's eventual loss to the Celtics in the conference semifinals.

``You can't harp on last year in this league.''

For now, that's exactly how Mike Brown would like to leave it.

``Some people may say it is, but I don't think it's a statement game,'' the Cavs coach said. ``Would it be a good win? Yeah. Would you feel good about it? Yeah. If they win (tonight), what do they get? Media attention, a pat on the back and a win. If we win what do we get? Media attention, a pat on the back and a win.''

Celtics notes

Tony Allen, still suffering from a right ankle sprain that has kept him out of the last two games, was ruled out for tonight and Sunday (at Toronto).

As a result, rookies Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens were recalled from the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League.

- mrmurphy@bostonherald.com