GAME THREAD: NBA: DETROIT (10-5) at CLEVELAND (11-4)

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA PLAYOFFS
DETROIT 75
CLEVELAND 88 5:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA PLAYOFFS
DETROIT 80
CLEVELAND 96 2:30 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA PLAYOFFS
DETROIT 80
CLEVELAND 98 1:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA PLAYOFFS
DETROIT 82
CLEVELAND 98 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DETROIT 21 27 18 16 82
CLEVELAND 27 21 19 31 98 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: DET - RICHARD HAMILTON 29, CHRIS WEBBER 13,
RASHEED WALLACE 11
CLE - DANIEL GIBSON 31, LEBRON JAMES 20,
ZYDRUNAS ILGAUSKAS 11</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

** CONFIRMED **
NBA
DETROIT 82
CLEVELAND 98 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

DETROIT (82) AT CLEVELAND (98)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T PRINCE F 39:48 1-10 3-4 0 6 6 6 4 2 1 5
R WALLACE F 30:25 5-14 1-1 1 1 2 2 6 3 1 11
C WEBBER C 25:49 5-8 3-3 2 4 6 0 4 0 1 13
R HAMILTON G 36:12 10-20 8-8 0 4 4 3 6 3 4 29
C BILLUPS G 43:41 3-7 2-3 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 9
A MCDYESS 25:02 2-8 3-5 2 4 6 1 4 1 1 7
C DELFINO 4:13 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
L HUNTER 16:52 1-4 1-1 1 1 2 1 3 0 2 4
N MOHAMMED 1:15 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
J MAXIELL 1:02 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D DAVIS 5:39 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 0
R MURRAY 10:02 1-4 2-2 1 2 3 2 1 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 28-78 23-27 10 23 33 16 32 11 12 82
(.359) (.852) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 12 (16 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 46:11 3-11 14-19 2 12 14 8 1 2 3 20
D GOODEN F 26:14 3-9 1-2 2 2 4 0 2 0 4 7
Z ILGAUSKAS C 22:34 5-9 1-1 7 5 12 0 3 1 1 11
S PAVLOVIC G 20:56 2-7 3-4 0 2 2 1 5 0 4 8
L HUGHES G 28:29 3-8 1-2 0 3 3 4 0 1 2 9
A VAREJAO 28:04 3-9 1-3 3 4 7 0 4 2 1 7
D GIBSON 29:03 7-9 12-15 2 4 6 2 5 0 2 31
D MARSHALL 12:20 1-4 0-0 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 3
E SNOW 6:38 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
DA JONES 19:31 1-6 0-0 0 2 2 4 1 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 28-72 33-46 17 36 53 19 24 7 17 98
(.389) (.717) TEAM REBS: 17 TOTAL TO: 18 (13 PTS)

DETROIT 21 27 18 16 - 82
CLEVELAND 27 21 19 31 - 98

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - R WALLACE 2, A MCDYESS, C BILLUPS, T PRINCE.
CLEVELAND - L JAMES 2, D MARSHALL, Z ILGAUSKAS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 3-14 (.214), T PRINCE 0-2, R WALLACE 0-
2, R HAMILTON 1-1, C BILLUPS 1-3, C DELFINO 0-1, L HUNTER 1-4, R MURRAY 0-
1. CLEVELAND 9-21 (.429), L JAMES 0-2, S PAVLOVIC 1-2, L HUGHES 2-
4, D GIBSON 5-5, D MARSHALL 1-3, DA JONES 0-5.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DETROIT - R HAMILTON, C WEBBER, C BILLUPS, R WALLACE.
CLEVELAND - S PAVLOVIC, D MARSHALL, L JAMES.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: EDDIE F. RUSH, JACK NIES, JOE DEROSA.
A - 20,562. T - 3:03.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

DETROIT (82)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Prince 39:48 1-10 3-4 0-6 6 4 5
R Wallace 30:25 5-14 1-1 1-2 2 6 11
C Webber 25:49 5-8 3-3 2-6 0 4 13
R Hamilton 36:12 10-20 8-8 0-4 3 6 29
C Billups 43:41 3-7 2-3 0-0 1 1 9
A McDyess 25:02 2-8 3-5 2-6 1 4 7
C Delfino 4:13 0-2 0-0 1-1 0 1 0
L Hunter 16:52 1-4 1-1 1-2 1 3 4
N Mohammed 1:15 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
J Maxiell 1:02 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Davis 5:39 0-0 0-0 2-2 0 1 0
R Murray 10:02 1-4 2-2 1-3 2 1 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-78 23-27 10-33 16 32 82
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.359, FT-.852. 3-Point Goals:
3-14, .214 (T Prince 0-2, R Wallace 0-2, R
Hamilton 1-1, C Billups 1-3, C Delfino 0-1, L
Hunter 1-4, R Murray 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8.
Blocked Shots:5 (R Wallace 2, A McDyess, C
Billups, T Prince). Turnovers:12 (R Hamilton
4, L Hunter 2, A McDyess, R Wallace, C
Delfino, T Prince, C Webber, D Davis).
Steals: 11 (R Wallace 3, R Hamilton 3, C
Billups 2, T Prince 2, A McDyess).


CLEVELAND (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 46:11 3-11 14-19 2-14 8 1 20
D Gooden 26:14 3-9 1-2 2-4 0 2 7
Z Ilgauskas 22:34 5-9 1-1 7-12 0 3 11
S Pavlovic 20:56 2-7 3-4 0-2 1 5 8
L Hughes 28:29 3-8 1-2 0-3 4 0 9
A Varejao 28:04 3-9 1-3 3-7 0 4 7
D Gibson 29:03 7-9 12-15 2-6 2 5 31
D Marshall 12:20 1-4 0-0 1-3 0 3 3
E Snow 6:38 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Da Jones 19:31 1-6 0-0 0-2 4 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-72 33-46 17-53 19 24 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.389, FT-.717. 3-Point Goals:
9-21, .429 (L James 0-2, S Pavlovic 1-2, L
Hughes 2-4, D Gibson 5-5, D Marshall 1-3, Da
Jones 0-5). Team Rebounds: 17. Blocked
Shots:4 (L James 2, D Marshall, Z Ilgauskas).
Turnovers:17 (D Gooden 4, S Pavlovic 4, L
James 3, L Hughes 2, D Gibson 2, Z Ilgauskas,
A Varejao). Steals: 7 (A Varejao 2, L James
2, E Snow, Z Ilgauskas, L Hughes).

-------------------------------------------
DETROIT 21 27 18 16 - 82
CLEVELAND 27 21 19 31 - 98
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Detroit - 4 (R Hamilton,
3:29 1st; C Webber, 3:29 1st; C Billups, 5:35
2nd; R Wallace, 7:43 4th). Cleveland - 3 (S
Pavlovic, 3:29 1st; D Marshall, 10:52 2nd; L
James, 11:15 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: 3:03.
Officials: Eddie F. Rush, Jack Nies, Joe
Derosa.</div>

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers did not need asuperhuman effort from LeBron James. But they got one fromrookie Daniel Gibson.

Gibson scored a season-high 31 points and fueled a second-halfsurge as the Cavaliers locked up their first-ever trip to theNBA Finals with a 98-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons in GameSix of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night.

James had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists and ZydrunasIlgauskas added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, whichadvanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in its 37-yearhistory. The Cavaliers, who will play the San Antonio Spurs inGame One on Thursday, have a chance to win a major championshipfor the city for the first time since the Browns won the NFLchampionship in 1964.

Gibson took charge late in the third period. With Detroitleading, 63-62, with 2:38 remaining, Gibson scored Cleveland'snext 11 points, including three 3-pointers, to give theCavaliers a 73-67 lead with 10:45 left.

James then converted a three-point play off a fast-break layupand Gibson provided a 3-point dagger from the left wing to makeit 79-67 with 9:42 left.

The Pistons soon unraveled and Wallace was ejected after pickingup two technicals with 7:44 remaining. Gibson knocked downanother 3-pointer from the left corner to extend the edge to86-71 with 6:52 left.

Gibson was 7-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-pointrange. He scored 22 of the Cavs' 29 points at one stretch inthe second half and was also 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.His performance came on the heels of Game Four, when the21-year-old had his previous high of 21 points, making 12-of-12from the charity stripe.

Even without a fantastic performance by James, who shot just3-of-11, the Cavaliers finished off the Pistons in six gamesafter being in a similar situation last year. However, in the2006 Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland had won threestraight to take a 3-2 series lead before dropping Game Six hereand losing Game Seven in Detroit.

On Thursday, James had one of the greatest performances in NBAplayoff history, scoring a playoff-high 48 points, including histeam's last 25, in the 109-107 double-overtime win. Thewinning basket came when the three-time All-Star penetrated downthe lane and scooped in a layup with 2.2 seconds to play.

Richard Hamilton scored 29 points for the Pistons, who lost fourin a row for the first time all season.

The Cavaliers finished the first quarter on a 12-2 run and shot57 percent (9-of-16) for the period to take a 27-21 lead despiteJames having two points.

After the game was delayed 21 minutes before start the secondquarter because of a scoreboard malfunction, Detroit respondedby outscoring Cleveland, 25-19, to help them enter the lockerroom tied at 48-48 at halftime.

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers did not need asuperhuman effort from LeBron James. But they got one fromrookie Daniel Gibson.

Gibson scored a season-high 31 points and fueled a second-halfsurge as the Cavaliers locked up their first-ever trip to theNBA Finals with a 98-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons in GameSix of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night.

James had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists and ZydrunasIlgauskas added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, whichadvanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in its 37-yearhistory. The Cavaliers, who will play the San Antonio Spurs inGame One on Thursday, have a chance to win a major championshipfor the city for the first time since the Browns won the NFLchampionship in 1964.

Gibson took charge late in the third period. With Detroitleading, 63-62, with 2:38 remaining, Gibson scored Cleveland'snext 11 points, including three 3-pointers, to give theCavaliers a 73-67 lead with 10:45 left.

James then converted a three-point play off a fast-break layupand Gibson provided a 3-point dagger from the left wing to makeit 79-67 with 9:42 left.

The Pistons soon unraveled and Rasheed Wallace was ejected afterpicking up two technicals with 7:44 remaining. Gibson knockeddown another 3-pointer from the left corner to extend the edgeto 86-71 with 6:52 left.

Gibson was 7-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-pointrange. He scored 22 of the Cavs' 29 points at one stretch inthe second half and was also 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.His performance came on the heels of Game Four, when the21-year-old had his previous high of 21 points, making 12-of-12from the charity stripe.

Even without a fantastic performance by James, who shot just3-of-11, the Cavaliers finished off the Pistons in six gamesafter being in a similar situation last year. However, in the2006 Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland had won threestraight to take a 3-2 series lead before dropping Game Six hereand losing Game Seven in Detroit.

On Thursday, James had one of the greatest performances in NBAplayoff history, scoring a playoff-high 48 points, including histeam's last 25, in the 109-107 double-overtime win. Thewinning basket came when the three-time All-Star penetrated downthe lane and scooped in a layup with 2.2 seconds to play.

Richard Hamilton scored 29 points for the Pistons, who lost fourin a row for the first time all season.

The Cavaliers finished the first quarter on a 12-2 run and shot57 percent (9-of-16) for the period to take a 27-21 lead despiteJames having two points.

After the game was delayed 21 minutes before start the secondquarter because of a scoreboard malfunction, Detroit respondedby outscoring Cleveland, 25-19, to help them enter the lockerroom tied at 48-48 at halftime.

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

DETROIT (82) AT CLEVELAND (98)

DETROIT

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T PRINCE F 39:47 1-10 3-4 0 6 6 6 4 2 1 5
R WALLACE F 30:23 5-14 1-1 1 1 2 2 6 3 1 11
C WEBBER C 25:46 5-8 3-3 2 4 6 0 4 0 1 13
R HAMILTON G 36:11 10-20 8-8 0 4 4 3 6 3 4 29
C BILLUPS G 43:41 3-7 2-3 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 9
A MCDYESS 25:04 2-8 3-5 2 4 6 1 4 1 1 7
C DELFINO 4:14 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
L HUNTER 16:53 1-4 1-1 1 1 2 1 3 0 2 4
N MOHAMMED 1:16 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
J MAXIELL 1:03 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D DAVIS 5:39 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 0
R MURRAY 10:03 1-4 2-2 1 2 3 2 1 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 28-78 23-27 10 23 33 16 32 11 12 82
(.359) (.852) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 12 (19 PTS)

CLEVELAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

L JAMES F 46:12 3-11 14-19 2 12 14 8 1 2 3 20
D GOODEN F 26:12 3-9 1-2 2 2 4 0 2 0 4 7
Z ILGAUSKAS C 22:35 5-9 1-1 7 5 12 0 3 1 1 11
S PAVLOVIC G 20:56 2-7 3-4 0 2 2 1 5 0 4 8
L HUGHES G 28:29 3-8 1-2 0 3 3 4 0 1 2 9
A VAREJAO 28:04 3-9 1-3 3 4 7 0 4 2 1 7
D GIBSON 29:02 7-9 12-15 2 4 6 2 5 0 2 31
D MARSHALL 12:20 1-4 0-0 1 2 3 0 3 0 0 3
E SNOW 6:39 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
DA JONES 19:31 1-6 0-0 0 2 2 4 1 0 0 2

TOTALS 240:00 28-72 33-46 17 36 53 19 24 7 17 98
(.389) (.717) TEAM REBS: 17 TOTAL TO: 18 (12 PTS)

DETROIT 21 27 18 16 - 82
CLEVELAND 27 21 19 31 - 98

BLOCKED SHOTS: DETROIT - R WALLACE 2, A MCDYESS, C BILLUPS, T PRINCE.
CLEVELAND - L JAMES 2, D MARSHALL, Z ILGAUSKAS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DETROIT 3-14 (.214), T PRINCE 0-2, R WALLACE 0-
2, R HAMILTON 1-1, C BILLUPS 1-3, C DELFINO 0-1, L HUNTER 1-4, R MURRAY 0-
1. CLEVELAND 9-21 (.429), L JAMES 0-2, S PAVLOVIC 1-2, L HUGHES 2-
4, D GIBSON 5-5, D MARSHALL 1-3, DA JONES 0-5.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DETROIT - R HAMILTON, C WEBBER, C BILLUPS, R WALLACE.
CLEVELAND - S PAVLOVIC, D MARSHALL, L JAMES.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: EDDIE F. RUSH, JACK NIES, JOE DEROSA.
A - 20,562. T - 3:04.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

DETROIT (82)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Prince 39:47 1-10 3-4 0-6 6 4 5
R Wallace 30:23 5-14 1-1 1-2 2 6 11
C Webber 25:46 5-8 3-3 2-6 0 4 13
R Hamilton 36:11 10-20 8-8 0-4 3 6 29
C Billups 43:41 3-7 2-3 0-0 1 1 9
A McDyess 25:04 2-8 3-5 2-6 1 4 7
C Delfino 4:14 0-2 0-0 1-1 0 1 0
L Hunter 16:53 1-4 1-1 1-2 1 3 4
N Mohammed 1:16 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 1 0
J Maxiell 1:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Davis 5:39 0-0 0-0 2-2 0 1 0
R Murray 10:03 1-4 2-2 1-3 2 1 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-78 23-27 10-33 16 32 82
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.359, FT-.852. 3-Point Goals:
3-14, .214 (T Prince 0-2, R Wallace 0-2, R
Hamilton 1-1, C Billups 1-3, C Delfino 0-1, L
Hunter 1-4, R Murray 0-1). Team Rebounds: 8.
Blocked Shots:5 (R Wallace 2, A McDyess, C
Billups, T Prince). Turnovers:12 (R Hamilton
4, L Hunter 2, A McDyess, R Wallace, C
Delfino, T Prince, C Webber, D Davis).
Steals: 11 (R Wallace 3, R Hamilton 3, C
Billups 2, T Prince 2, A McDyess).


CLEVELAND (98)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
L James 46:12 3-11 14-19 2-14 8 1 20
D Gooden 26:12 3-9 1-2 2-4 0 2 7
Z Ilgauskas 22:35 5-9 1-1 7-12 0 3 11
S Pavlovic 20:56 2-7 3-4 0-2 1 5 8
L Hughes 28:29 3-8 1-2 0-3 4 0 9
A Varejao 28:04 3-9 1-3 3-7 0 4 7
D Gibson 29:02 7-9 12-15 2-6 2 5 31
D Marshall 12:20 1-4 0-0 1-3 0 3 3
E Snow 6:39 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Da Jones 19:31 1-6 0-0 0-2 4 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-72 33-46 17-53 19 24 98
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.389, FT-.717. 3-Point Goals:
9-21, .429 (L James 0-2, S Pavlovic 1-2, L
Hughes 2-4, D Gibson 5-5, D Marshall 1-3, Da
Jones 0-5). Team Rebounds: 17. Blocked
Shots:4 (L James 2, D Marshall, Z Ilgauskas).
Turnovers:17 (D Gooden 4, S Pavlovic 4, L
James 3, L Hughes 2, D Gibson 2, Z Ilgauskas,
A Varejao). Steals: 7 (A Varejao 2, L James
2, E Snow, Z Ilgauskas, L Hughes).

-------------------------------------------
DETROIT 21 27 18 16 - 82
CLEVELAND 27 21 19 31 - 98
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Detroit - 4 (R Hamilton,
3:29 1st; C Webber, 3:29 1st; C Billups, 5:36
2nd; R Wallace, 7:44 4th). Cleveland - 3 (S
Pavlovic, 3:29 1st; D Marshall, 10:52 2nd; L
James, 11:16 4th).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: 3:04.
Officials: Eddie F. Rush, Jack Nies, Joe
Derosa.</div>

 

NBA: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">PLAYOFFS

NBA DETROIT AT CLEVELAND
NOTE: RESENDING BOX SCORE MADE CHANGES TO MINUTES,
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS AND TECHNICAL FOUL MINUTES.</div>

 

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers did not need asuperhuman effort from LeBron James, because they got one fromrookie Daniel Gibson.

Gibson scored a season-high 31 points and fueled a second-halfsurge as the Cavaliers locked up their first trip to the NBAFinals with a 98-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game Sixof the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night.

James had 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists and ZydrunasIlgauskas added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, whichadvanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in its 37-yearhistory.

"This is big for Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas)," James said. "This isbig for the franchise, big for the city of Cleveland and big forOhio. It doesn't get much better than this."

The Cavaliers, who will play the San Antonio Spurs in Game Oneon Thursday, have a chance to win a major championship for thecity for the first time since the Browns won the NFLchampionship in 1964.

"There have been a lot of ups and downs," said Ilgauskas, whoreached his first finals in 11 seasons. "It's a feeling I'venever experienced in my life. We know we're not done yet. Thisis great, and it's fun, but we need four more wins to get thebig one."

Cleveland is just the third team all-time to reach the NBAFinals after dropping the first two games of a conference final.

"We went down 0-2 and nobody gave us a chance," Cavaliersreserve guard Damon Jones said. "Our fans got us over the humpin Game Three and we got a little momentum, and then we justrolled on from there."

With the Pistons defense smothering James every time he touchedthe ball Saturday, Gibson, a baby-faced assassin from Texas tookcharge. With Detroit leading, 63-62, Gibson scored Cleveland'snext 11 points, including three 3-pointers, to give theCavaliers a 73-67 lead with 10:45 left.

"I told Daniel before the game, I said, 'I believe Detroit isgoing to double-team me, triple-team me before I crosshalfcourt, so get that gun and get it locked and loaded and justshoot it, don't second guess yourself, just shoot it,'" Jamessaid. "And that's exactly what happened."

James then converted a three-point play off a fast-break layupand Gibson provided a 3-point dagger from the left wing to makeit 79-67 with 9:42 left.

"Gibson had a phenomenal series for them," Pistons coach FlipSaunders said. "LeBron kills you one game and you want to notlet him go totally off again. We had more people running athim, and Daniel then made every big shot."

The Pistons soon unraveled and Rasheed Wallace was ejected afterpicking up two technicals with 7:44 remaining and Gibsonknocked down another 3-pointer from the left corner to extendthe edge to 86-71 with 6:52 left.

"Rasheed was very frustrated with how the game was being calledand he should have been," Pistons guard Chauncey Billups said.

Gibson was 7-of-9 from the field, including 5-of-5 from 3-pointrange. Doing his best LeBron imitation, he scored 22 of theCavs' 29 points during one stretch in the second half and wasalso 12-of-15 from the free-throw line.

"This game reminds me of my freshman year in high school in thestate championship," James said. "What Gibson did tonightreminded me of our point guard, Drew Joyce, hitting sixconsecutive threes. He hit seven in a row and we won the statechampionship."

Gibson's performance came on the heels of Game Four, when the21-year-old had his previous high of 21 points, making 12-of-12from the charity stripe.

Even without a fantastic performance by James, who shot just3-of-11, the Cavaliers finished off the Pistons in six gamesafter being in a similar situation last year. However, in the2006 Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland had won threestraight to take a 3-2 series lead before dropping Game Six hereand losing Game Seven in Detroit.

"I told everybody in this locker room I'm tired of losing to thePistons," Cavaliers forward Drew Gooden said. "They were soconcerned about LeBron, (Daniel) kept knocking down shots. Hewas huge."

On Thursday, James had one of the greatest performances in NBAplayoff history, scoring a playoff-high 48 points, including histeam's last 25, in the 109-107 double-overtime win. Thewinning basket came when the three-time All-Star penetrated downthe lane and scooped in a layup with 2.2 seconds to play.

"There is no way we would be here in the Eastern ConferenceFinals or winning the conference finals if it was a one-manshow," James said. "It's never happened in NBA history where ateam has one guy and he does it all. My teammates are myfamily."

Richard Hamilton scored 29 points for the Pistons, who lost fourin a row for the first time all season.

"Some of the key guys didn't play their best series," saidPistons forward Tayshaun Prince, who was 1-of-10 from the floor."We played up and down. That was the case last year in theseries, but when people were in slumps, other guys picked themup."

The Cavaliers finished the first quarter on a 12-2 run and shot57 percent (9-of-16) for the period to take a 27-21 lead despiteJames having two points.

After the game was delayed 21 minutes before start the secondquarter because of a scoreboard malfunction, Detroit respondedby outscoring Cleveland, 25-19, to help them enter the lockerroom tied at 48-48 at halftime.