Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles against Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) in the fourth quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday. Picture: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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This time the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t need any last-second heroics from LeBron James. The four-time league MVP was sensational on Tuesday from start to finish.
James collected 38 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and the Cavaliers held off the visiting Chicago Bulls 106-101 to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series.
“LeBron was just outstanding in every element of the game,” Cavs coach David Blatt. “You can’t pick a thing he didn’t do on the highest level.”
“I was very efficient tonight,” said James, who added three steals, three blocks and zero turnovers. “I was able to get my jumper and post-up game going early and attack.”
James evened the series with Sunday’s buzzer-beating baseline jumper to win Game 4 but he turned an ankle. He missed shoot-around Tuesday morning but showed no signs in pivotal game 5.
“Did you see what happened to LeBron in the last game?” Blatt said.
“Most people don’t play for the next three weeks.”
Cleveland can wrap up the series Thursday in Chicago and advance to its first conference finals appearance in six years.
“We’re not in control,” James said. “It’s two great teams battling.”
Kyrie Irving scored 25 points on a sore right foot and left knee tendinitis for second-seeded Cleveland. Iman Shumpert had 13 while Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith netted 12 apiece.
“I want to be that guy for my teammates as well as LeBron,” Irving said. “But when you’re limited to certain things you have to come to grips with it.”
Jimmy Butler scored 29 points, Mike Dunleavy netted 19 while Derrick Rose had 16 for third-seeded Chicago, playing its second straight game without All-Star forward Pau Gasol because of a hamstring strain.
Faced with an elimination game 6, the Bulls remain upbeat.
“Our confidence is still high, that’s not going anywhere,” Rose said.
“We’ve got one more game and we’re not quitting.”
The Bulls roared out to an early 18-8 advantage but couldn’t hold it.
James’ scored eight points and the Cavs had a 25-24 lead after one.
James tallied his team’s first 12 points to open the second quarter and had 16 for the period to give Cleveland a 54-44 halftime cushion.
Cleveland led 83-73 when Bulls forward Taj Gibson bowled over Matthew Dellavedova from behind under the basket and fell atop the feisty Cavs backup guard.
Gibson tried to get up but Dellevadova scissored his legs around Gibson’s left foot. Pulling free, Gibson was whistled for kicking Dellavedova, resulting in double technical and an ejection.
“I just tried to pull my leg back but he leg-locked me,” Gibson said.
“By no means did I try to kick him.”
After building a 97-82 lead on a James 3-pointer, the Cavs struggled down the stretch.
The Bulls went on a 17-5 charge with five triples, including one by Butler to pull within 101-99 with 1:17 left.
James then made the big defensive play, rejecting a potential game-tying layup by Rose on a fast break.
“I knew he was going to take off and try to get a bucket,” James said. “I was just not giving up on the play.”
After Butler grazed a wide-open go-ahead corner 3-pointer off the rim with 45 seconds remaining. James missed a jumper at the other end but Shumpert grabbed a huge offensive rebound.
The Bulls fouled and Irving made both free throws with 16 seconds left and added two more to seal the win.
“It’s game 5, LeBron in the Q (Quicken Loans Arena) to go up 3-2,” Thompson said. “That’s what you expect from him.”
In the West: James Harden had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his first playoff career triple-double, and the Houston Rockets avoided elimination from their conference semifinal matchup, with a 124-103 rout over the visiting LA Clippers in game 5.
“It was win-or-go home,” Harden said. “They embarrassed us twice in LA and we knew we could play better. We found our swagger tonight.”
The Clippers still lead the series 3-2 and can advance to their first conference final with a close-out win at home Thursday.
Dwight Howard had 20 point with 15 rebounds for second-seeded Houston, which bounced back from blowout road losses of 25 and 33 points in the previous two contests.
Blake Griffin had 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Chris Paul added 23 and 10 assists for the third-seeded Clippers, who trailed by 15 at the break and never cut the deficit to single digits in the second half.
“I’m disappointed how we played,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “We didn’t play with the proper urgency to win the game. We have to get it back.”
