CLEVELAND - LeBron James had a nasty head cold. The New Jersey Nets had a bigger headache. Cleveland's defense kept New Jersey's Big 3 from getting into an offensive flow and James sniffled his way to 21 points as the Cavaliers opened the Eastern Conference semifinals with an 81-77 victory over the Nets on Sunday.

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots over New Jersey Nets' Vince Carter and Bostjan Nachbar (7), from Slovenia, during the fourth quarter of a second round NBA playoff basketball game Sunday, May 6, 2007, in Cleveland. James scored 21 points to lead Cleveland to a 81-77 win in the first game of the best-of-seven series. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

The Cavaliers came in well rested after their four-game sweep of Washington in the first round, and they needed every ounce of energy to hold off the Nets, who pulled within 79-77 on Vince Carter's two free throws with 19.5 seconds left.

But James, who came down with a cold during Cleveland's time off, scored on a tough drive to put Cleveland up by four, and on New Jersey's final possession, the Cavaliers never allowed the Nets to get a good look at the basket.

There were hands in faces and bodies banging bodies, the type of defense Cavs coach Mike Brown has been preaching to his team all season.

Cleveland held New Jersey to 37 percent shooting and outrebounded the Nets 51-37.

Larry Hughes added 17 points and Sasha Pavlovic a playoff career-high 15 for the Cavs, who will host Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Vince Carter's 23 points led New Jersey, but Jason Kidd, who averaged a triple-double in the Nets' opening-round win over Toronto, had just seven on 2-of-11 shooting. Richard Jefferson, the third wheel in New Jersey's offensive machine, added 16 points.

New Jersey seemed to rely too much on 3-pointers and went just 5-of-20 from long range, mostly a result of the Cavs forcing them out of the lane. New Jersey's point total was its lowest in 22 playoff games.

A year ago, the Cavaliers were overmatched in their semifinal opener at Detroit. It was a tough lesson to learn, but the players swore they would grow from the experience, and one game into this series it looks as if they have.

Cleveland's victory was a struggle. The Cavs shot just 40 percent from the floor and they couldn't open a comfortable distance from the Nets, who were within 77-73 with 2:03 left on a layup by Jefferson.

Kidd then made a steal and was on his way in for an easy layup when Pavlovic, whose poor defense in the past kept him seated on Brown's bench, ran down New Jersey's guard from behind and swatted away his shot at the rim.

Hughes, who held Kidd without a point in the first half, hit a jumper to make it 79-75, and the Cavs were able to hold on thanks to their effort on defense.

James blamed his cold on a "change in the weather" before the game. At halftime, he sat on the Cavs' bench with his head covered with a towel and spent the final few minutes before play resumed blowing his nose.

Kidd missed his first five shots from the field and didn't score until hitting a free throw with 7:57 left in the third. But he followed that by hitting a 3-pointer and the Nets were able to pull even at 59-all after three.

But after Kidd and Jefferson hit early 3s in the fourth, New Jersey's offense stalled. With its defense a step quicker, Cleveland built a six-point lead before holding off one late New Jersey push.

The Nets' second unit ripped off nine straight points in the second quarter to open a 33-25 lead, but the Cavs countered with a 16-4 run and took a 41-37 lead on Pavlovic's dunk with 2:43 left.

Pavlovic was a non-factor in last year's postseason, playing a total of four minutes. But the 6-foot-7 native of Serbia-Montenegro had a breakthrough 2006-07 season, making 28 starts and giving the Cavs another offensive option.

Notes:@ Browns quarterback Brady Quinn received a thunderous ovation when he was introduced at halftime and presented with a Cavs No. 10 jersey. ... Nets minority owner/hip hop mogul/LeBron buddy Jay-Z sat courtside in seats normally reserved for James' entourage. ... James was one of many players who watched Saturday night's Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. title fight. Mayweather's win in a split decision didn't surprise James. "It was easy for me," he said. "His hand speed and his foot speed were too much." ... Cavaliers G David Wesley is not with the Cavs for personal reasons, the club said.