• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

James, Cavaliers try to win critical Game Five vs. Pistons

May 31, 2007 - 2:27 PM Cleveland at Detroit 8:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference Finals Game Five

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) - LeBron James is hoping to take the Cleveland Cavaliers to a place they've never been.

James and the Cavaliers aim to win their third straight game when they face the Detroit Pistons in Game Five of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday.

Cleveland defeated Detroit, 91-87, on Tuesday to knot the series at two games apiece. It was the third time in franchise history the Cavaliers have tied a conference final at 2-2.

A year ago, the Cavaliers won Game Five of the conference semifinals at Detroit but could not seal the deal, losing Game Six at home and Game Seven on the road.

James was the catalyst in Game Four, scoring 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the Cavaliers even the series. It was the second straight contest the fourth-year superstar took over in the final quarter, having scored 12 of his 32 points in the last period of Game Three.

James also has had help from an unlikely source in rookie Daniel Gibson. The 6-2, 190-pound guard scored nine points in Game Three - the only points from the Cavaliers' bench - and he was even better in Game Four.

Gibson tallied a season-high 21 points, including 12-of-12 from the line. The second-round pick played increased minutes due to a foot injury to Larry Hughes, who played just 16 minutes and likely will miss Game Five.

In order to regain the advantage Thursday, Detroit must get better play from two-time All-Star Chauncey Billups, who is shooting 33 percent (10-of-30) in the last two games after connecting on 62 percent (8-of-13) in Games One and Two.

The 10-year veteran has missed 13-of-17 3-pointers in Games Three and Four and is averaging 5.5 turnovers in the series.

Detroit does have some history on its side. The Pistons are 8-2 in their last 10 seven-game series that were tied at 2-2.