24 May 2009

James sinks late three pointer to tie play-off series

7:41 am on 24 May 2009

LeBron James made a buzzer-beating three-pointer as time expired to rescue the Cleveland Cavaliers in their 96-95 National Basketball Association play-off win over the Orlando Magic.

With one second remaining and his team down two points, James caught an inbound pass and drilled a 25-footer to tie up the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final at 1-1.

James, who ran down court and was mobbed by his team mates, told reporters that the Cavaliers just couldn't afford to go down 0-2 in this series going back to Orlando.

Hedo Turkoglu put the Magic up 95-93 when he hit a pull-up jump shot with one second left that appeared to give Orlando a shock victory.

But James, who shot a game-high 35 points, delivered for Cleveland with a finish to remember.