LeBron, Cavs 1 Win Away

Jun 01, 07:20 AM

Current Headlines: By LARRY LAGE

By LARRY LAGE

the associated press

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - LeBron James used one of the most spectacular performances in playoff history to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to the verge of their greatest season.

James' career playoff-high 48 points - including 29 of his team's final 30 - carried the Cavaliers to within a win of the NBA Finals for the first time with a 109-107 double-overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night.

James made a go-ahead layup with 2.2 seconds left and Detroit's Chauncey Billups missed a shot in the lane on the ensuing possession.

The Pistons blew a seven-point lead with 3:15 left in regulation and lost the third straight game in the series after winning the first two at home.

Game 6 is Saturday night in Cleveland and if necessary, Game 7 will be Monday night back at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The San Antonio Spurs, who eliminated Utah on Wednesday, have a week off before hosting Game 1 of the NBA Finals .

Detroit can only hope the series ends like its last postseason match-up with the Cavs.

The Pistons won the first two games of the conference semifinals last year, then lost three straight and needed to win on the road and then at home in Game 7.

James was 18 of 33 from the field, making both of his 3- pointers, and 10 of 14 from the free throw line. He also had nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals in a performance that might be a defining game of his career.

The 22-year-old star showed he's human, though, airballing a shot just before the shot clock expired with 6.6 seconds left in the first overtime that gave Detroit a chance to force another period.

James put Billups on the line with 3.1 seconds left and he made two free throws to tie it at 100 .

The Cavs have prided themselves on not being a one-man show, but James just about did it alone against a team in the conference finals for the fifth straight year.

He simply took over late in regulation and in both overtimes, choosing to attack the basket with driving layups and dunks instead of deferring to teammates.

James scored 32 more points than Cleveland's second-leading scorer, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who fouled out with 16 points. Rookie Daniel Gibson, who also fouled out, was the only other double-digit scorer, with 11.

The Pistons, meanwhile, seemed to finally put a complete game together and each of their starters scored at least 10.

Richard Hamilton scored 26, Chauncey Billups had 21 and Chris Webber scored 20. Rasheed Wallace had 17 points and Tayshaun Prince added 10.

It wasn't enough.

The Pistons needed Antonio McDyess. Unfortunately for them, the 11-year veteran was stuck in front of a television set.

The 6-foot-9 McDyess was ejected late in the first quarter after he clotheslined Anderson Varejao as he drove to the basket. And with Webber in foul trouble all game, the Pistons were forced to go to Jason Maxiell and Dale Davis to try to find a post presence.

Maxiell gave the Pistons his usual dose of high energy, but the second-year forward had nine points and five rebounds in 28 minutes, and didn't score after halftime.

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