The Cleveland Cavaliers hit back against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Eastern Conference finals but head coach Tyronn Lue is not satisfied.

Cleveland reduced Boston's series lead to 2-1 following Saturday's 116-86 rout on home court, having tasted consecutive defeats.

LeBron James scored 27 points and tallied 12 assists to put the Cavaliers on the board in their quest to reach the NBA Finals.

But Lue insisted the Cavs cannot get carried away with their game-three victory.

"We know what it takes," Lue said on Sunday. "We did it before. We've got a lot of veterans, a veteran crew and they know what it takes to win.

"We can't get satisfied with just one win, it's just one, we've got to come out [Monday] night and duplicate it again."

Cleveland fell behind 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, and they have history of coming back from deep holes — four current players were part of the 2016 team which completed the first 3-1 comeback in NBA Finals history.

James has enjoyed one of the best postseasons of his career, and he elevated his game even further on Saturday by leading on the defensive end of the court.

"I thought [Saturday] night was one of LeBron's best games I've seen in a long time as far as helping, closing out to [Celtics guard] Jaylen Brown's chest, making him put it on the floor," Lue said. "Closing out to [Marcus] Morris. Closing out to [Marcus] Smart, so he did a really good job of just setting the tone of multiple efforts and that was good for us."

If the Cavaliers are to come back in the series, they will need more out of reserve guard Jordan Clarkson, who scored nine points in 13 minutes on Saturday.

"I don't think he's nervous," Lue said. "He's not scared or afraid at all. When you take 11 or 12 shots off the bench in the playoffs, you're not scared, you're not afraid, so that's what he does.

"He's just got to be smart, time and score when to do it, but he's doing a good job of just trying to be aggressive and attacking and I think he will make shots."