LeBron James Stands Alone in Game 5

LeBron James just wasn't ready yet for the season to end, willing his Cleveland Cavaliers to a Game 5 victory Thursday night to keep this Eastern Conference final alive.

There was nothing complex about Cleveland's fourth quarter strategy against the Orlando Magic. It was give the ball to James at the top of the key, step back and see what wonder he could create.

It was all LeBron, all the time down the stretch. And it was impressive – even by the highest MVP standards.

As good as 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists may sound for James, his fourth-quarter flourish was even more impressive in this 112-102 victory. James either scored or assisted in 32 of the 34 points in the fourth.

Cavaliers 112, Magic 102: Recap | Box Score
Magic Lead 3-2 | Next Game: Saturday @ Orlando, 8:30 PM ET

If he wasn't scoring, he was making sure one of his teammates did when it mattered most. While everyone marveled at this one-man show, and the Magic kept waiting for him to wear down, he never faltered.

It wasn't like he was playing point guard and moving the ball. It was James holding the ball like it was a last possession, waiting to make his final move. Except, he did it from start to finish of the fourth quarter.

"You never want to disappoint the home crowd. It was win or go home,'' James said. "You have to do everything sometimes.''

The Magic still hold a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 in Orlando on Saturday. The Cavs are trying to become just the ninth team in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-1. They already lost twice in Orlando earlier in this series, but with James, anything obviously is possible.

James did it all in the fourth, overcoming the better balanced Magic. He did get the best support he has had in this series with Mo Williams scoring 24 points and six 3-pointers. Daniel Gibson, who has been no factor through most of the series, hit a trio of 3-pointers.

"LeBron was huge for us. It wasn't pretty. We just gave him the ball, and said `get us some good looks, big fellow,''' said Cavs coach Mike Brown. "That's what great players do. He put the team on his back and made plays for everyone.''

The Cavs started with a 35-point first quarter, leading by as many as 22 points when they hit 10 of their first 11 shots and threatened to end this game early. Unfortunately for the home crowd at the Q, the Magic stood their ground and scored 37 points in the second quarter, dousing any early momentum the Cavs had built.

By intermission, the huge early lead was down to just one point. When the Magic opened the second half by scoring the first five points, the building grew eerily quiet, knowing they could be saved only by James.

"That's what great players do,'' said Mickael Pietrus, the Magic forward trying to guard him.

LeBron James Photos

CLEVELAND - MAY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shakes hands with rapper/producer Jay Z after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James;Jay Z

Getty Images

Cleveland Cavaliers' forward LeBron James (right) strips the ball from the hands of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard during first half action in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

MCT

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (below) is fouled by Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard during the first half in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

MCT

CLEVELAND - MAY 28: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts with teammate Wally Szczerbiak #10 after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 28, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James;Wally Szczerbiak

Getty Images

Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James is fouled by Orlando Magic's Marcin Gortat during the first half in Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, May 28, 2009. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

MCT

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (L) scores over Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard during Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 28, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Cleveland Cavaliers Wally Szczerbiak (R) congratulates forward LeBron James after James scored during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference final basketball playoff game against the Orlando Magic in Cleveland, Ohio, May 28, 2009. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu, center, from Turkey, collides with Cleveland Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao (17), from Brazil, and LeBron James (23) under the basket in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Thursday, May 28, 2009, in Cleveland. Cleveland won 112-102. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James celebrates after scoring against Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 28, 2009. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James scores as he is fouled by Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard during the fourth quarter of Game 5 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 28, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters