29-05-2009

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King Does It All. Gets Triple-Double. Keeps Cavs Alive. »

The Cavaliers are heading back to Florida, their wondrous season still alive. LeBron James wouldn’t let it end. James, showing off every dimension of his unstoppable game, had 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists, and Mo Williams, who boldly predicted the Cavs would come back and win this tight-as-can-be series, added 24 points in a 112-102 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 on Thursday night. The Magic overcame a 22-point deficit but missed their first opportunity to close out the Cavaliers, who are trying to become just the ninth team since 1947 to rally and win a series after being down 3-1. James scored 21 points in the second half — 17 in the fourth quarter — and had a hand in Cleveland’s first 29 points in the final 12 minutes. The last player to post at least 37-14-12 in a playoff game was Oscar Robertson in 1963. LeBron James can score with anybody. He can leap to the rafters, shift the basket stanchion with his strength, move with the grace of a dancer. But what separates him from the other greats of this generation — Kobe, D-Wade, Melo — and any generation, is his court vision. His ability to facilitate like the finest point guards in the game and still put up 35, 40 points.

Photos Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE via Getty Images. Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images, David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images, Elsa/Getty Images.