When the wild celebration died down at the Q Friday night, the next sound you may not have heard was a huge, huge sigh of relief.The Cleveland Cavaliers are still alive.
The Cavs won a thriller, 96-95, saved by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from LeBron James who did what only the greatest can do. He willed his team to victory when they were straddling defeat.
Just when it looked as grim as it ever did – the Magic grabbed a 95-93 lead with :01 remaining – James saved the day with the biggest shot of the season.
They were one second away from being down 0-2 and heading to Orlando without much of a chance in this Eastern Conference final -- until James hit his first and only 3-pointer of the game.
The Cavs had blown a 23-point lead, let Orlando fight back into the game and watched Hedo Turkoglu hit his potential game winner before they called time out, and found a way to get James the ball one final time.
He caught it and immediately fired it.
"We couldn't afford to go down 0-2 in this series," James said. "They kept their composure, but so did we. That was great shot the Hedo hit, but so was mine. It was a great shot. We matched them shot for shot."
LeBron James Photos
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (R) watches his game-winning basket go through the hoop next to Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu (L) and Rashard Lewis (C) during Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 22, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard looks to the clock after Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James scored the game winning basket during Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 22, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James embraces Ben Wallace (4) after a 96-95 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball finals Friday, May 22, 2009, in Cleveland. James' 3-point shot as time expired won the game. (AP Photo/David Richard)
AP
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (R) celebrates with teammate Ben Wallace after scoring the game winning basket against the Orlando Magic during Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 22, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
CLEVELAND - MAY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and teammates celebrate after James made the game winning three point basket to defeat the Orlando Magic in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 22, 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
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CLEVELAND - MAY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers smiles after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 22, 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
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CLEVELAND - MAY 22: LeBron James #23 and Ben Wallace #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers hug after defeating the Orlando Magic in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 22, 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;Ben Wallace
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CLEVELAND - MAY 22: LeBron James #23 and Sasha Pavlovic #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after James made the game winning three pointer against the Orlando Magic in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 22, 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;Sasha Pavlovic
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CLEVELAND - MAY 22: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the game winning three pointer over Hedo Turkoglu #15 of the Orlando Magic in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2009 Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 22, 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;Hedo Turkoglu
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Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James shoots the game-winning basket over the top of Orlando Magic's Hedo Turkoglu (L) during Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference Final basketball playoff game in Cleveland, Ohio, May 22, 2009. REUTERS/Aaron Josefczyk (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
Reuters
James finished with a game high 35 points, down from the 49 he scored in the Game 1 loss, but just enough to save the season. The Cavs now go to Orlando with momentum, knowing they are lucky as well as good.
It was a strange game for James. He didn't get all the superstar calls like he sometimes does. He was called for traveling on his way to the basket with :30 remaining and the score tied, giving Turkoglu his chance at a game winner.
Midway in the fourth, James was called for offensive fouls on two consecutive possessions, stunning the home crowd, when he bowled over Magic players. Turkoglu also was called twice for charging in the fourth.
The Magic tied the game for the first time, 82-82, when Courtney Lee hit a layup with 6:52. They took their first and only lead at 86-84 with 5:25. From there, it was a classic with both teams exchanging big basket.
The Magic started slowly, much like they did in Game 1. Rashard Lewis and Turkoglu forgot their wake-up calls again. Neither scored their first basket until midway in the second quarter for the second consecutive game. The Magic were sleeping on defense, too, allowing the Cavs to score 56 points by intermission.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy summed up the early going during one of the between-quarter television interviews: "Everything out there is bad right now,'' he said. But then everything went right down the stretch, until the final shot by James.
James, who struggled with cramps at the end of Game 1, wisely conserved his energy this time, scoring just 17 points in the first half, saving some of his brilliance for the end. And it paid off.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-23-2009 @ 12:33AM
Magic said...
That was the longest 1 second i ever seen in my life, he caught the ball on both feet then jumpd and shot it, that was the slowest clock i ever seen in my life for 1 second his catch and shoot was clearly at least 2.5 seconds
but thats what happens when the network wants KOBE vs JAMES and your in cleveland
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 12:33AM
al said...
man im pulling for orlando forreal...but damn that shot was the definition of UNREAL.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 12:37AM
Dennis` said...
Magic said...
That was the longest 1 second i ever seen in my life, he caught the ball on both feet then jumpd and shot it, that was the slowest clock i ever seen in my life for 1 second his catch and shoot was clearly at least 2.5 seconds
but thats what happens when the network wants KOBE vs JAMES and your in cleveland
============================
I SUGGEST YOU READ THE RULE BOOK....THE CLOCK DOESNT START UNTIL THE INBOUNDS PASS IS CAUGHT. ANYWAY...THE OFFICIALS REVIEWED THAT PLAY AND SAID IT WAS GOOD.....YOU JUST SOME SOUR GRAPES TO WHINE ABOUT. ADMIT IT ===============
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 12:38AM
bwkappa said...
KING JAMES.
Can I get a WITNESS!
Truly the "Chosen One"
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 12:40AM
bwkappa said...
Oh yeah!
Can I get a witness!
Nobody stops the King.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 1:10AM
Sports Fan said...
That game will go down as a classic.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 12:59AM
punkkdaddy said...
Tired of everyone making excuses why Lebron is not the best, truth is he's the MVP, and will lead the Cavs to a championship!
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 3:48AM
Giles said...
A quarter of a second to catch, a quarter of a second to dip, a quarter of a second to rise, a quarter of a second to shoot, yeah, it does seem possible. Congrats to the Cavs. for evening their series, and best of luck to both teams. If home court advantage is maintained the rest of the way, the Magic will win in 6, but the Cavs. can easily break thru on the road, like the Magic did, and can do again. I HATE the hype, but the basketball is good.
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5-23-2009 @ 4:04AM
Giles said...
The King? Karl Malone is back? Oh, you mean that pretty boy with the earrings, James. Good ball player. Can`t play guitar and sing like Elvis could, though. Definetly not the King. But James is a good ball player, it is the HYPE I hate, not him. And his team can easily win a game in Orlando. Just as the Magic can possibly win another in CleveLand. Magic in 6, hopefully. Glad Sasha Pavlovic contributed off the bench for Cleveland, though. He should not have become a forgotten man to begin with. West is a combo guard. Pavlovic is the only wing guard on that team. Though James and Szcerbiak have played there in the past it isn`t their most natural position. Wally isn`t quick enough and Le Bron doesn`t shoot reliably enough from middle and long range. Though James could play the guard D, and Szcerbiak could take the guard shots, giving them valuable size on the wing. Not much needed against the Magic, unless Turkoglu goes back to guard, which isn`t likely, but if the Cavs advance, Keiza and Anthony share the wings for Denver, both 6`8 they say, though Anthony was 6`6 when he entered the league. And Bryant is 6`7. They could use wing guard size in the championship round, and practice working with it prior to that.
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 6:58AM
Jim said...
What kind of language is this:
I SUGGEST YOU READ THE RULE BOOK....THE CLOCK DOESNT START UNTIL THE INBOUNDS PASS IS CAUGHT. ANYWAY...THE OFFICIALS REVIEWED THAT PLAY AND SAID IT WAS GOOD.....YOU JUST SOME SOUR GRAPES TO WHINE ABOUT. ADMIT IT ===============
"You just some"?? Did you fail first grade English?
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 8:30AM
kinkboy1121 said...
The king was all but dead... his team laying on the ropes.... the fans silenced by the haunting fears of 44 years of disappointing losses, but Lebron James didn't play that game.... Oh no he didn't.... The witnesses got first hand testimony that the MVP was on the court and saved our season from the clutches of defeat. It was the greatest game ever for millions of Cleveland fans, and just how great a moment it is .... will be determined by Lebron's teammates. He covered their backs and reached into his bag of tricks, and performed a put a spell on the Magic.... they're stunned and shaking their heads in disbelief.... but will the team now understand that and reclaim their dominate ways of a memorable season.... who will answer the call.... Moe....Andy....Delonte...Z...Big Ben...Wally...Sasha... do they want a championship bad enough to appreciate the miracle moment.... or will they continue to not show up.....
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 10:49AM
clevelandrck2 said...
great post. Where is Moe?
5-23-2009 @ 10:48AM
mike said...
You morons it took .02 seconds before james released the ball. He caught the ball, turned, jumped and released,02 seconds! Orlando got jobbed!
Reply
5-23-2009 @ 11:46AM
ladywindime said...
The refs raced over to watch the replay to be SURE that LeBron made that basket... yet, they did not SEE the ball that Mo Williams threw straight at Dwight Howard... and they did not review that major blunder. If Dwight had done it, he would have been immediately ejected.
It seems like they need to learn that all calls should be the same on both ends for both teams. Although, they did finally notice 2 or 3 things that LeBron did "wrong" and they can predict that Dwight fouls everyone all the time.. The reviews and live play do not actually match what they say.
How could all 3 refs MISS seeing Mo do that rude throw hitting Howard with the ball... oh wait, they weren't watching the ball..? !!!! Imagine that!
Reply