![]() Jordan had 239 in a four-game stretch in 1993. That's the most in a Finals span other than James, who had 245 in the 2017 Finals. James now has 10 playoff losses in his career when he has scored 40 points, second to only Michael Jordan's 12.īutler has scored or assisted on 240 points in the past four games. I think had a hell of a performance tonight." We can go on the other end and do what we do. "That's what really, really, really great players do," Butler said of the battle. Butler had 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, continuing to play mostly point guard with Heat star Goran Dragic out with his own foot injury. In that fourth quarter, James had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists as he had to carry the Lakers with Davis hobbling on a sore foot. In between there were so many displays of force offset with nuanced reads and finesse that led to a powerful, sublime back and forth. That was it - that's how small the gap was. The following free throws were the difference in the game.īutler checked James on the final play, but James faced a double- and then a triple-team as he got into the paint, leading him to a kickout that resulted in a missed 3-pointer that might haunt Danny Green for a while. James was on Butler when Heat teammate Jae Crowder set a perfect back screen that freed Butler to get to the basket and draw a foul on Davis. In the end, they were indeed guarding each other. You're trying to make plays for your team and be successful on both ends." "You take those opportunities and you live in the moment. "That's the beauty of the game, being able to compete at the highest level," James said. He closed with 40 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. He made 15 of his 21 shots and six of his nine 3s, dream numbers for a player who values efficiency. James simply had one of the greatest shooting games of his already exhaustively impressive Finals career. It was an incredibly efficient performance, featuring 11-for-19 shooting, even though he repeatedly had to deal with a big, elite defender in Anthony Davis. Pierce broadcast 12 years ago, and they were there again Friday to call a beautiful game.īutler finished with 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals and a block in playing all but 48 seconds of the game. Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were on the James vs. ![]() These two were brilliant in going chest-to-chest all night, culminating in a climax in the final three minutes in which they traded off scoring on six consecutive possessions. ![]() The Celtics won by five.īut that one probably goes down a peg after this James-Butler show. Pierce had 41, the two players guarding each other, getting to their sweet spots and one-upping big plays all while holding, pushing and cursing. James scored 45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers' 92 points that Sunday afternoon in Boston. It's one of the stories of his career.īut the Game 5 duel James staged with Jimmy Butler in the Miami Heat's season-saving 111-108 victory Friday over the Los Angeles Lakers instantly goes in the pantheon of his career showdowns.īefore Friday night, James' greatest man-on-man heavyweight-style match was with Paul Pierce, still the most tenured of all James' rivals, in Game 7 of the 2008 conference semifinals. LeBron James has lived through many NBA Finals games in which he's played great and lost. ![]() You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser ![]()
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