by Jeff Goodman

Updated: May 15, 2008, 10:50 AM EST 69 comments

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For a while, it appeared as though the Boston Celtics trio had been trimmed to just a duo, since Ray Allen has been M.I.A. for much of the postseason. Now it's back to a threesome — only Rajon Rondo has stepped into Allen's shoes.

With Allen mired in one of the worst shooting slumps of his NBA career, Rondo chose an opportune time to come up with the signature performance of his brief two-year pro career.

"He was definitely the X-factor today," Cleveland's LeBron James said after the 96-89 loss. "He hit two 3s and that's something we wanted to give up."

Kevin Garnett did his part with a semi-quiet 26 points and 16 rebounds. Paul Pierce added 29 points, seven rebounds and made key free throws in the waning minutes that ended any thought of a Cavs victory in Game 5.

But it was Rondo who was the difference with 20 points, 13 assists and just one turnover.

The guy who everyone said couldn't shoot coming out of college at Kentucky buried a pair of wide-open shots from long distance.

"We'll live and die with him taking 3s and jumpers," said Cleveland guard Delonte West, who played with Rondo last season with the Celtics. "He's really improved and if he can get that jump shot down, he's going to be a deadly force in this league."

James appeared as though he was set to carry the Cavs to the first road win of the series. He had 23 in the first half and Cleveland led at the break, 46-43.

However, Rondo's trifectas allowed the Celtics to gain momentum they carried over in the second half — both on the offensive and defensive end.

Boston, the league's top defensive team in the regular season, blanked James until 44 seconds remained in the third quarter, when he sank a short jumper on a drive to the basket. As LeBron goes, so do the Cavs.

LeBron struggled and the Cavs were inept for much of the quarter, finishing with just 17 points.

"They turned up the aggression and that was the difference in the ballgame," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "The first three or four possessions of the quarter, we turned it over and that set the tone."

Garnett came up with a quick steal and it turned into an Allen jumper. Rondo then took a steal in for a layup and a 47-46 Boston lead — the Celtics' first of the game.

Rondo's floater in the lane extended the lead to 71-59 late in the third quarter, and while the Cavs threatened in the final minutes of the game, Boston held on. The Celtics head for the road just one win shy of a date with Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals.

Rondo logged 42 minutes, far more than he's received from Boston coach Doc Rivers in any postseason game this season. Rivers showed his confidence in the same guy that he has kept on the bench in key moments while opting to go with veteran Sam Cassell.

"We've pretty much given him (Rondo) the keys all year," Rivers said. "Sam's struggling and the (Daniel) Gibson matchup was killing us with Sam."

Ditto for Allen, who just can't seem to get into a rhythm. Widely regarded as one of the top perimeter shooters in the NBA, Allen is making just 21 percent of his 3-pointers in the series — nearly half of what he has made in his lengthy career.

Allen isn't quite used to not having plays consistently run for him, and it's taking its toll. Rivers will need to get him back on track. Maybe not to get past LeBron & Co., but certainly if banner No. 17 is to be hung in Boston.

Boston held serve once again at home, but the Celtics have yet to break their opponent on the road in the postseason. Friday night in Game 6 is an all-too familiar spot for the Men in Green, who had to go seven games in the opening series against the Hawks after failing to take one in Atlanta.

"The priority here is to play better on the road," Garnett said. "We can play better on the road. We've just got figure out how to do it."

If not, they'll just have to hold serve once again on their home floor.