LeBron James carried the Cavaliers to pivotal 106-101 Game 5 win over the Chicago Bulls to take a 3-2 series lead Tuesday night at The Q.
Thanks to James’ 38 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks, Cleveland is one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in six years.
James came into the game shooting 37 percent from the field with numerous turnovers added in. With Kyrie Irving playing on two bad wheels, the onus was on him to deliver and to do it in an efficient fashion.
Jimmy Butler didn’t have a shot at containing him on this night.
The four-time MVP went all out, exerting maximum energy. He was animated, barking at Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith in the opening quarter for poor defensive rotations as the Bulls took an 18-8 lead. The team responded, with Irving and Iman Shumpert each scoring seven points to James’ eight as the Cavaliers grabbed a 25-24 lead after one quarter.
The Cavaliers took control in the second quarter squarely on James’ back. He scored the team’s first 12 points in the period and posted 16 in the quarter to put his team up 10 at intermission, 54-44.
He didn’t settle for the three-point ball that he was 2-of-19 on prior to the game. James forced the issue, slashing to the basket as he made nine of his first 11 shots. Also sprinkled in were a few fadeaway jumpers out of post-up possessions.
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