On a night that saw the best players in the NBA step up their games, King James was head and shoulders above them all thanks to a crowning achievement at the buzzer in Cleveland.
To give Cleveland a 98-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night in Game 5 of their series, LeBron James dropped a 3-pointer as the final buzzer sounded. Thanks to the shot, Cleveland leads the series 3-2 and is one game away from advancing to the second round playoffs.
James finished with 44 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and was a perfect 15-15 from the line.
“As a kid you always have those 3, 2, 1 moments and that’s what it kind of felt like,” James said. “I felt like I was a kid all over again playing basketball at my house on makeshift hoops and my socks as a basketball.”
Were it not for James’ heroics, Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan would have been the stars of the night as Westbrook had 45 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Thunder back from a 25-point deficit and force a Game 6 with the Jazz on Friday in Utah.
For his part, DeRozan dumped in 32 points in Toronto to help the Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 108-98 in Game 5 of their series. Game 6 will be Friday in Washingon.
In the last game on Wednesday, the Rockets took care of business and eliminated Minnesota 122-104 in Houston. They will take on the winner of the Thunder/Jazz series.
Tonight, Game 6 of the Celtics/Bucks series in Milwaukee is the only NBA playoff game.
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