LeBron's elimination-game legend grows as Cavs force Game 7

Was it ever in doubt?

The Cleveland Cavaliers staved off elimination thanks to a superhuman 46-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist performance from LeBron James to defeat the Boston Celtics in Game 6.

It was a vintage performance from James that ranks among the best of his illustrious career. Boston simply refused to give up, and it remained in the game all night long by hitting 43 percent from deep. The King, however, had a response each time the Celtics threatened to even the game.

James played every second of the first half and went into halftime with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He lobbied head coach Tyronn Lue to take him out shortly before halftime, but Lue resisted. James finally caught his first breather at the end of the third quarter, and he returned to the game a minute later to finish off the Celtics with a pair of stepback threes.

James also had to make up for the absence of Kevin Love, who exited the game in the first quarter after banging heads with Jayson Tatum. Love was the only other Cavalier to average over 11 points in the series, and yet his absence wasn't felt because James was able to elevate his game.