James plays well while also playing hurt

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James hurts everywhere. He is the King of Pain.

One win from taking the Cavaliers back to the NBA Finals, and one step closer to a title he covets more than any other, James leaned against a padded wall Monday and hardly resembled basketball’s most undeniable force.

“I’m feeling all right,” he said, forcing a smile that showed he wasn’t being entirely truthful. “I’ve been better, but I’ve been worse. I think I’ve been worse.”

James moved slowly and not with his usual grace one day after his brilliant performance in Game 3 lifted Cleveland to a 114-111 win against the Atlanta Hawks in overtime, moving the Cavaliers within a victory of their first Finals appearance since 2007.

James wore a sleeve on his right calf, which cramped so severely he asked to be taken out Sunday night before re-considering. Instead, he pushed through the pain and delivered 37 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists — all after an 0-for-10 shooting start — to help Cleveland take a 3-0 series lead. He’s battered, not beaten. James isn’t likely to let anything stop him. Not this close to his fifth straight Finals or a championship.

“When you want to win, you’ve got to sacrifice your body feeling good,” he said. “That’s just what it’s about.”

With a win tonight, the Cavaliers can clinch the Eastern Conference title and get some rest before a Finals matchup presumably against Golden State. James has been down this path before, but never one so bumpy.

Cleveland’s season has been strewn with obstacles such as: Extreme expectations, chemistry issues, trades and injuries, including ones in the postseason to forward Kevin Love and All- Star point guard Kyrie Irving, who has missed the past two games with an injured left knee. James never has been on a team that’s had to surmount as much.

Before the season began, James predicted this — molding a new team into a title contender — would be the greatest challenge of his career.

“I felt it would be, and it is,” he said.

The Cavaliers need one more win against the Hawks, who showed resiliency in Game 3 by overcoming a 10-point deficit in the fourth when they appeared to be done. One play here, one there and Atlanta wouldn’t be in a 3-0 hole no team in league history has been able to climb from.

“No matter what happens, we’re still going to be confident,” said Atlanta forward Paul Millsap.

For James, the only ending he can envision is winning his third title and ending Cleveland’s 51-year title drought.