Cleveland, OH — Welcome back to the Lebron Show. How did anyone ever doubt that this series was over after the first two games?
NBA fans have seen Lebron James the passer, the playmaker, the defender and the coach. On Monday night, fans saw Lebron James the scorer — the really, really good scorer.
Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers tied the Eastern Conference Finals series at 2-2 after the 111-102 win over the Boston Celtics on Monday night. And as the Akron-native broke the record for most play-off field goals in NBA history who (passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), he led the Cavs with 44 points (with just a single 3-point make) to clinch the victory.
It was James’ sixth 40-point game this postseason and that’s the most since Allen Iverson’s six in 2001. In 42 minutes, James went 17 for 28 from the field, pushing his way to the rim with ease multiple times, and added nine points from the foul line — no one else on the Cavs scored more than 20 points. Kyle Korver added 14 points from the bench, and starters Tristan Thompson and George Hill both chipped in 13 points.
“I’ve put a lot of work in day in and day out with my body, working on my game every day, trying to put myself in the best condition I can be in the postseason,” said James.
The Cavs came out to a 34-18 lead after the first quarter and with Lebron on the bench for just two minutes of the game, it was the Lebron Show from the tipoff to the final buzzer — there was no way he was going to lose Game 4, especially not at home at the Quicken Loans Arena.
And although the Cavs had 15 assists to their 41 field goals, they shot over 50 percent from the field and ultimately had the ultimate trump card: Mr. James. He was unstoppable, ending the night with a plus nine efficiency rating, tying for the top rating on the roster.
And as both teams head back to TD Gardens, the lower seeded Cavs will have to pull off a feat that no other team has done in these playoffs: win in Boston (the Celtics are 9-0 at home this postseason).
“It’s a hostile environment,” said James of Boston. We understand that. There’s no love in there if you don’t have on green. If you don’t bleed green, there’s no love for you. They have not lost a postseason game on their home court, so they’re going to be extremely confident.
“But if we play like we did in Games 3 and 4, we’ll have a good chance.”
Game 5 will take place in Boston on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
