NBA Playoffs: LeBron James Carries Cavs to 3-2 Series Lead

Richard Hamilton paced Detroit with 26 points.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - LeBron James took another step toward legend status on Thursday.

James scored Cleveland's final 25 points, spanning the end of regulation and both overtime periods, to finish with a playoff career-high 48.

The final two came on a game-winning driving layup with 2.2 seconds left in a 109-107 Game 5 victory over the Pistons that gave the Cavaliers a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

James shot 18-for-33 from the field, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range, and 10-for-14 from the free throw line, and added nine rebounds and seven assists in the first double-overtime playoff game in Cleveland team history. Zydrunas Ilgauskas tallied 16 points and and eight rebounds before fouling out.

Richard Hamilton paced Detroit with 26 points, and Chauncey Billups added 21, including two free throws with 3.1 seconds left in the first extra session that forced the second OT period.

He had previously missed a potential game-winning shot from the top of the key at the fourth-quarter buzzer. Chris Webber scored 20.

Cleveland will look to close out the series and move on to The NBA Finals when it hosts Game 6 on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

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