OAKLAND -- LeBron James and Kyrie Irving became the first teammates in NBA Finals history to score at least 41 points apiece, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 112-97 Game 5 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at the Oracle Arena.
James also had 16 rebounds and 7 assists while Irving dished 6 assists and swished 5 triples as the Cavaliers sliced their NBA Finals series deficit to 3-2. They host Game 6 on Thursday night at their home floor, the Quicken Loans Arena, where another victory could set the stage for a Game 7.
Facing elimination on hostile grounds, the Cavaliers battled the Warriors to a 61-61 tie at halftime. But Cleveland, thanks to Irving's 3s and LeBron's mid-range jumpers, began to create some separation in the third quarter where the Cavaliers went on a 32-23 spurt to take a 93-83 lead heading into the payoff period.
JR. Smith had 10 and Richard Jefferson added 8 for Cleveland, which shot 53 percent from the field (44 of 83) and 41 percent from 3-point range (10 of 24).
"At this point, its whatever it takes. Obviously, making shots and things of that nature are something that sometimes you just can't control. Sometimes the ball go in, sometimes it don't. How hard you play, how locked in you are on the keys to get a victory, what the coaching staff put out for us. But he was -- obviously this guy was special --- and we rode him to the victory line," James said as he reflected on the big win and Irving's terrific performance.
The Warriors got 37 points from Klay Thompson and 25 from Steph Curry. Andre Iguodala, who started in place of the suspended Draymond Green, tallied 15 points and 11 boards but little else was produced by a Warriors offense that converted only 32 of 88 field goals (36.4 percent) and 14 of 42 threes (33.3percent).
Photo: LeBron James willed his team to a Game 5 win on Tuesday night, forcing a Game 6 in the ongoing NBA Finals. James scored 41 points in a resounding 112-97 Cavs triumph over the Warriors.
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