Cavaliers Live To Play Another Day

LeBron James scored 37 points and had a triple double in the Cavs’ 112-102 win

By BRIAN WINDHORST

THE PLAIN Dealer

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers made several quenching statements on Thursday night but the most important may have been the one they made to themselves.

They can beat the Orlando Magic, a concept that has seemed doubtful at times during this rocky Eastern Conference finals. And they can do it playing their own game, even if it means having to absorb body blows and intense and sometimes unrelenting pressure.

The Cavs took what they hope is their first step in a comeback by out-battling the Magic, 112-102 in Game 5, hardly the way they way to play at this stage of the season but with no other choice.

It was a high-scoring game that saw the Cavs turn a 22-point lead into an eight-point deficit with stunning swiftness. But it also showed just what it is going to take to eliminate them from the playoffs. Quite a bit.

Now the series shifts back to Orlando as the Magic get their second chance for a closeout game but will have to do so under pressure for the first time all series as the Cavs get one last chance to steal one.

It will probably take the same sort of effort they put forth in Game 5, which was deeper than it has been in the series and saw some of the Magic’s unsungs stop playing like such heroes. That and yet another superior effort from LeBron James, who doesn’t yet seem to be tiring of them yet.

James had his best all-around game of the series and his first triple double of the postseason when the Cavs had to have it. He didn’t reach 40 points this time but it wasn’t for lack of trying as he scored 37 points with 12 assists and tied his career playoff high with 14 rebounds.

In the fourth quarter as the Cavs fiercedly battled to hold back a Magic run, James demanded the ball and relentlessly attacked the Magic. He bulled into Dwight Howard over and over, unafraid of injury until he drew enough fouls to get Howard out of the game.

The final foul for Howard came with 2:22 left as James crunched into him and somehow got the ball on the rim and into the net. When he finished the three-point play, the Cavs had pretty much finished the Magic and earned new life.

He scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and dished out four assists, a large key that should not be overlooked. The fact that others were able to finish off his passes.

Mo Williams finally was able to summon the sort of All-Star caliber performance he gave for much of the season. He was able to finish with 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas made 6-of-8 shots and put up 16 points despite having his hands full dealing with Howard.

Delonte West had another strong game with 13 points though he, too, had struggles on defense. Daniel Gibson followed up his good shooting in Game 4 by hitting three more 3-pointers in Game 5 on his way to 11 points. Gibson made two 3-pointers in the fourth off James’ feeds that were crucial.

The Howard/Hedo Turkoglu pick-and-roll was still a problem. Orlando got 24 points from Howard before he fouled out on 8-of-10 shooting with 10 rebounds. Turkoglu had his best scoring game of the series with 29 points.

But without the other help, they couldn’t match the Cavs and will now have to try again.