Cavaliers beat Pistons in double overtime thriller
(AP)Updated: 2007-06-01 13:33
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 109-107 in double overtime on Thursday to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
LeBron James, who contributed a career-high 48 points, scored all his side's final 25 points, including the game-winner with 2.2 seconds to go.
 Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James smiles during a break in the fourth quarter of play against the Detroit Pistons during Game 5 of the NBA's Eastern Conference basketball series in Auburn Hills, Michigan, May 31,2007.[Reuters] |
"I just wanted to try to be aggressive," James told reporters of the shot that put the Cavaliers within one game of the NBA finals.
"I kind of seen there was an opening and I wanted to attack." he added. "I was able to get to the lane, avoid a couple of defenders and get the ball up on the backboard."
Detroit's Chauncey Billups then missed a shot to end the contest.
Game Six is in Cleveland on Saturday. The winner of the best-of-seven series will meet the Western Conference champions San Antonio Spurs.
James made 18 of 33 shots from the field and connected on 10 free throws.
Richard Hamilton led Detroit with 26 points, Billups had 21 and Chris Webber 20.
The Pistons enjoyed a six-point lead with three minutes to go in regulation, but James brought the Cavaliers back, scoring on a dunk with nine seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Cleveland went up by four in the first extra period before free throws by Rasheed Wallace and Billups forced a second overtime.
Webber put Detroit on top 107-104 with a field goal and a free throw with 1:28 remaining, but James was not finished.
He drilled a three-pointer with 1:14 to go to tie the score at 107-107 and then got the game-winner.
"I have always told (my team mates) that if they can get me even close to win the game, I am going to do my best to do that, and we accomplished that tonight."
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