LeBron James on buzzer-beater to beat Pacers: 'It felt like I was a kid all over again'

LeBron James made sure the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t lose Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

James made a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cavs a 98-95 victory.

It was his only made three-pointer of the game. 

"As a kid, you always have those 3, 2, 1 moments," James said. "When you're a kid and being able to have one of those moments, that's what it kind of felt like. It felt like I was a kid all over again, just playing basketball at my house. With makeshift hoops and my socks as a basketball and making the noise. So, that's what it felt like." 

Moments earlier James made a defensive play that altered the game and the series. 

James scored a game-high 44 points and gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 first-round Eastern Conference series.

It was the 21st time James scored at least 40 points in a playoff game passing Jerry West for No. 2 all time, and it was the 101st time he scored at least 30 points in postseason, second most behind Michael Jordan (109).

James also had 10 rebounds, eight assists, and he also blocked Victor Oladipo’s driving layup attempt with three seconds left in the fourth quarter that would have given Indiana 'a two-point lead.

The Cavs missed just one free throw in their 27 attempts.

Game 6 is Friday in Indianapolis where the Cavs can win the series and James can improve his record in the first round to 13-0.

Here are four reasons the Cavs took control of their first-round series. 

1. James feasted in the paint

James didn’t take a three-pointer until late in the third quarter. He lived in the paint at the rim for most of the game, scoring 24 of his points inside the restricted area.

The Pacers had no answer for James’ determined drives to the basket, and they simply can’t allow James to score so often at the rim.

James also made 15 for 15 from the foul line.

2. Korver knocks down threes

With Indiana trying to prevent James from scoring inside, it opened up room for Cleveland’s shooters – Kyle Korver in particular.

Korver, whose two three-pointers in the fourth quarter of Game 4 helped even the series, made 5 for 9 three-pointers. Kevin Love is struggling offensively, and J.R. Smith missed his six three-point attempts. Cleveland needed Korver’s offense, and he delivered with 19 points.

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3. Cavs’ defense

Cleveland gave up 56 points in the first half but increased the defensive intensity in the third quarter. The Pacers scored just 17 points in the third, were outscored 32-17 and Cleveland took 81-73 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Pacers were 5 for 16 from the field and 1 for 8 on three-pointers and had six turnovers in the third quarter.

Cleveland’s offense hasn’t been as sharp in this series as it was during the regular season, but its defense, which had issues during the regular season, has held Indiana to less than 100 points four times in the series.

4. Oladipo struggling

Pacers All-Star Victor Oladipo was 2 for 15 from the field and 1 for 7 on three-pointers for just 12 points. In his past three games – two of them Indiana losses – Oladipo is 12 for 50 from the field.

Domantas Sabonis (22 points), Thaddeus Young (16 points), Lance Stephenson (12  points) and Bojan Bogdanovic (11 points) were solid for Indiana. They helped Indiana eliminate a 95-89 deficit in the fourth and tie the score with 33 seconds left.

But if the Pacers are going to force a Game 7, they need the kind of offense that made Oladipo an All-Star and a leading candidate for the Most Improve Player award.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter.