CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving returned to his old self. LeBron James did, too.
James finished with 38 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Irving scored 25 points despite battling injuries to both legs, and guard Iman Shumpert grabbed a crucial offensive rebound in the final minute of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 106-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday.
Cleveland grabbed a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
It is the first time either team won consecutive games in this series. The Cavaliers will attempt to close out the Bulls on Thursday night at United Center. If Chicago successfully defends its home court, Game 7 would be played Sunday in Cleveland.
The Bulls were again without forward Pau Gasol due to a hamstring injury, and forward Taj Gibson was ejected in the fourth quarter after a tie-up with Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova led to both teams tangling under the basket. Gibson appeared to push Dellavedova down while going for a rebound, while Dellavedova pinned Gibson’s left leg between both of his. Gibson kicked Dellavedova while trying to shake free, receiving a flagrant-2 foul and an ejection after officials separated both teams.
The confrontation was the first in a series that has been physical and rugged throughout.
Chicago guard Jimmy Butler had 29 points and nine rebounds, including a pair of late 3-pointers to give the Bulls hope, and guard Derrick Rose added 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. However, 12 of Rose’s points came in the first quarter.
The Bulls head home trying once again to stave off elimination from James, who ended Chicago’s season in three of the past five years.
The Cavs took off following Gibson’s ejection, turning a 10-point game into a 90-73 lead on guard J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer with 9:26 left. The Cavs stopped scoring, however, allowing the Bulls to climb back in it.
A 3-pointer and a three-point play from forward Mike Dunleavy and consecutive 3-pointers from Butler pulled the Bulls within 101-99. Chicago had a chance to tie the game in transition, but James soared through the lane to swat away Rose’s attempt with 49 seconds left. Coming out of a timeout, Butler missed the chance to give the Bulls the lead on another 3-pointer, and Shumpert grabbed a huge offensive rebound at the other end off a James miss. Irving sank the two ensuing free throws, and the Cavs led 103-99 with 16 seconds left.
Irving twice referred to himself as a decoy in recent days as he fights through both a right foot strain and left knee tendinitis. He returned to his attacking ways Tuesday, however, finishing at the rim and finding his range again on 3-pointers after entering the night in a 5-for-23 shooting drought over his previous two games.
James hasn’t shot the ball well throughout this series, particularly on 3-pointers, so he gave up long-distance tries in the first half. James returned to his attacking ways, getting to the basket with ease for his most efficient offensive game of the series. He made five of his first six shots, scored the Cavs’ first 12 points of the second quarter and didn’t commit a turnover after he had 15 in the previous two games.
The Bulls have been prone to long offensive slumps throughout the series, and the problem struck again in the second quarter when they shot just 4-for-22, part of which was due to a swarming, aggressive Cleveland defense. The Bulls scored 49 points in the first half of Game 1, but their early production has since dropped in every successive game, culminating in a series-low 44 points in the first half Tuesday.
NOTES: Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was disappointed to learn that New Orleans Hornets coach Monty Williams was fired Tuesday. The two were assistants with Team USA. … G Derrick Rose took responsibility for the Bulls’ multiple shot-clock violations in the series. “It starts with me, pushing the ball, getting everybody to run with me,” he said. … The Cavs haven’t considered shutting down G Kyrie Irving despite his injuries. Irving is playing through a right foot injury and tendinitis in his left knee. “Mentally, I can’t (sit out),” Irving said. “I can’t look myself in the mirror and sit on the bench or sit in the locker room while I watch my teammates go out there.” … F LeBron James began the night with 236 3-pointers, tied with Jason Kidd for ninth all time in postseason games.