James calls game: Buzzer beater gives Cavs 3-2 series edge
The game, the series, the season and perhaps Cleveland’s future were in jeopardy.
Lebron James saved everything.
James dropped a 3-pointer at the buzzer, a crowning moment for another one of his brilliant performances, to give Cleveland a 98-95 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday in Game 5, putting the Cavaliers within one victory of advancing in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Moments after blocking Victor Oladipo’s possible go-ahead layup — a play the Pacers felt was goaltending — James caught the inbounds pass, took two dribbles and hit his winner over Thaddeus Young.
As Cleveland’s sellout crowd exploded, James hugged rookie teammate Cedi Osman before jumping on the scorer’s table to celebrate another of those moments that will define a career he dreamed of while growing up in Akron.
“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.”
James finished with 44 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and went 15 of 15 from the line.
“He does it at both ends every single night,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said. “That’s why he’s the best player in the world.”
Kyle Korver added 19 points and Cleveland’s much-maligned defense tightened just in time as the Cavaliers seized their first lead in the first-round series after being down 1-0 and 2-1.
Cleveland can close out Indiana with a win Friday night in Indianapolis.
Thunder 107, Jazz 99 —
At Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook scored 45 points and Oklahoma City rallied from 25 points down in the second half to fight off elimination and beat Utah. The Jazz take a 3-2 lead back to Salt Lake City for Game 6 on Friday.
At Toronto, Demar Derozan scored 32 points, Kyle Lowry had 17 points and 10 assists and Toronto rebounded after losing Games 3 and 4 to take a 3-2 lead in its series with Washington.
Raptors 108, Wizards 98— Rockets 122, Timberwolves 104 —
At Houston, Clint Capela had 26 points and 15 rebounds, James Harden added 24 points and Houston got another lopsided win to eliminate Minnesota after Game 5 of the first-round series.