LEBRON STARS AS CAVS HOLD OFF MAGIC

The Cleveland Cavaliers managed to blow a 22 point lead, but thanks to a ‘triple double’ from LeBron James still pulled off a 112-102 victory over the Orlando Magic in game five of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night.  The Magic still lead the series 3-2, with game six on their Amway Arena home court this Saturday.  If Cleveland can win game six they’ll return home for game 7 and an opportunity to become only the 9^th NBA team since 1947 to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

Despite the blown lead, Cleveland still had enough to cover the number as -7’ home favorites.  It was their first ATS triumph since game three of their second round series with the Atlanta Hawks, and broke a streak of four consecutive non-covers (4 losses, 1 push).   Orlando saw their streak of six consecutive pointspread victories end, but are still on a torrid 10-4 ATS run.  The ATS setback was only the Magic’s second non-cover against the Cavs in the past 15 meetings (13-2 ATS, 10-4 SU). The final score easily went OVER the 190’ total, the fourth OVER in the series. 

Basically, Cleveland’s season would be over at this point were it not for LeBron James’ massive game six output:  37 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists.  He got some help from Mo Williams, who added 24 and Zydrunas Ilgauskas with 16 points.  Delonte West (13 points) and reserve Daniel Gibson (11 points) also scored in double digits for the Cavs.  Orlando was led by 29 points from Hedo Turkoglu, with Dwight Howard contributing a ‘double/double’ consisting of 24 points and 10 rebounds.  Rashard Lewis (15 points) and Mickael Pietrus (13 points) rounded out the Magic’s double digit scorers.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy conceded that the Cavs earned this win:

"They deserved to get this one. As poorly as I thought we played, we still were there with chances to win and didn't get it done. We have to get ready to go on Saturday."

He also added a subtle suggestion to the NBA officials to let his team play LeBron more physically in the paint:

"The game is basically all LeBron, all the time. If he gets in the paint, it's automatically a foul. One of the things we have to do, we can't keep putting him on the line 20 times a game. We have to find a way to stop that."

Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson, meanwhile, praised the intensity and leadership of LeBron James:

"His intensity and his passion are out of this world. We will follow him. When he gets it going, there is nothing you can do."

The early line on Saturday’s game six has Orlando as a short -1’ home favorite with the total set at 192’.  The series price has Orlando as a -260 chalk to ultimately advance to the NBA Finals, with the takeback on Cleveland at +220.