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THE Boston Celtics recalled Australia’s Aron Baynes to their starting line-up and it proved a master stroke as they crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers and moved just one victory away from a berth in the NBA finals.

The Celtics won the pivotal Game 5 96-83 in Boston yesterday to take a 3-2 lead over the Cavaliers in the best of seven Eastern Conference finals. The Cavs head into tomorrow’s potential elimination Game 6 with concerns over the health of their 33-year-old star LeBron James, who appeared exhausted in the second half of the loss.

“Aron was great tonight with his energy and physicality,” Celtics All-Star forward Al Horford said.

Baynes, a 208cm Queenslander, had six points, seven rebounds and three blocks and fired up his team early with an inspirational sequence where he blocked Cavs point guard George Hill and then ran the full length of the court and scored.

The usually invincible James struggled physically after carrying his squad through the playoffs.

James had 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and received little support from his other starters, with JR Smith, Tristan Thompson and Hill combining for just 11 points.

The home team has won each of the five games of the series, and James is looking forward to having his home crowd in tomorrow’s Game 6.