Another series against the Raptors...another iconic playoff moment from LeBron James.
In Game 3 of their 2018 second-round playoff matchup against the Raptors, James poured in 38 points on 14-of-26 shooting, banking home the game-winner at the buzzer to put the Cavaliers up 3-0.
With time winding down, James took the ball full court off the inbound, with Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby cloaked over him, but it mattered for little as James let the one-handed, off-balance runner fly, breaking Raptor hearts everywhere with another signature playoff bucket, as the score read 105-103.
Every angle... of LeBron's Game 3 Tissot Buzzer Beater! #ThisIsYourTime #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/z4hb8IMs8V
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2018
It was James' second game-winning shot at the buzzer of the 2018 playoffs, following his three-point dagger in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers in the first round.
“What you come to find out as his teammate and playing with him is that he practices those shots all the time and makes them all the time,” Kevin Love said.
Watch the game below:
It's a play the Cavs have run in the past, but with eight seconds left, rather than take a timeout and reset in the halfcourt, the Cavs let James take control, with the Raptors defence getting back following Anunoby's game-tying triple on the play before.
“T. Lue was the one who told us, ‘Let’s take it full court,’ knowing I had more than enough time to get the ball up the court," James said, "and by us doing that, it doesn’t allow the defence to kind of sit and see what you’re going to do because you’re going at such a fast pace."
Kevin Love added 21 points and 16 rebounds on the night, while Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 27 points and seven assists.
The Cavs went on to sweep the Raptors (4-0) for the second-straight post-season, before losing in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.