Cavs needed signature performance from LeBron James in Game 5, and he delivered

LeBron James’ game-winning three-pointer in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers will be on highlight reels for decades. His potential game-saving block against Victor Oladipo only moments before will be perpetually tied to his night as well, emblematic of his ability to dominate on both ends of the court. 

“It felt like I was a kid all over again, playing basketball at my house,” James told reporters. “With makeshift hoops and my socks as a basketball and making the noise. That’s what it felt like.”

But James never would’ve been in position to hit another playoff game-winner, his third with the Cleveland Cavaliers and fourth overall, were it not for the prior 42 minutes he played. James assumed the role of Cavs savior again, leading Cleveland to a 98-95 victory and one win away from advancing to the second round. 

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His game-high 44 points more than doubled the team’s next-highest scorer (Kyle Korver, 19), and his sheer force of will was the only reason the Cavs were able to ward off the Pacers in the first place. 

Had James not turned in one of his signature performances, it’s possible Game 5 would’ve been his last home game in Cleveland. With free agency approaching, that’s the context that’s impossible to ignore as James faces his most difficult first-round opponent in the upstart Pacers.  

In fact, James is averaging 34.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and eight assists per game through five games. No other Cavs teammate has scored more than 20 points in a single game.

The team’s second option, Kevin Love, is averaging 11.8 points on 32.8% shooting vs. Indiana. But James’ game-winner temporarily masked the Cavs’ other issues.

“As soon as it left his hand, it looked perfect,” Cavs coach Ty Lue told reporters.

Wednesday’s shot was reminiscent of the game-winner he hit in Game 2 of the conference finals against Orlando in 2009. That night James took the inbounds pass from Mo Williams, bounced back and elevated.

This time, with two more seconds on the clock than nine years ago, James received a feed from Jeff Green, curled, squared his shoulders and buried it. Like Wednesday night, James didn’t have a teammate reach the 20-point mark in that Orlando game. His teammates did it just twice all series and the Magic upset the Cavs in six. 

Wednesday’s Cavs win makes it likely James’ first-round record will remain unblemished and move to 13-0. But the first half was a sobering reminder that the Cavs are likely a lottery team without their centerpiece. 

Down 56-49, it was obvious James wasn’t getting the support he needed as Love, J.R. Smith and Korver were a combined 5-for-17 in the first two quarters. Yet James barged his way to 20 points as starters Smith and Jose Calderon were held scoreless.

The Pacers tried Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Lance Stephenson, Trevor Booker and Bojan Bogdanovic on James at times, but he was indefatigable. 

James got his necessary backing in the third quarter as the Cavs turned the dial up on defense and stretched the floor. Korver and Calderon each nailed two three-pointers, all four of which came off assists from James. 

A fourth-quarter drought gave the Pacers a chance before James had his moments. After he hit the shot, James soaked in the adulation from Cavs fans, hopping up on the scorer’s table to physically elevate himself. He had guaranteed at least another home playoff game, and they were appreciative of what they had just witnessed.

“They’ve known me for 11 years of my career," James told reporters. "A few of them kind of paid attention to me when I was in high school as well. Maybe. They pay their hard-earned money to come see us play, and for me and my ballclub for us to go out there and have a game like we had tonight, it was just my show and our show of appreciation.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Michael Singer on Twitter.