Cavaliers jump ahead of Pistons in series

LeBron James scored 32 points and assisted on Drew Gooden's game-winning shot Wednesday night to lead the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers to an 86-84 victory over Detroit.

The win was Cleveland's third straight en route to a 3-2 lead in the second round series.

The Pistons, on the brink of elimination after two straight trips to the NBA Finals, have not been giving much respect to the Cavs, who are in the second round for the first time since 1993.

That should change now, but will it be too late?

Game 6 of the series is Friday night in Cleveland, and if the Pistons force a Game 7, they will be back on their home court Sunday.

Ben Wallace blew a chance to give the Pistons the lead for the first time since early in the second quarter when he missed two free throws with 40 seconds left. That left one of the NBA's worst free-throw shooters 0-for-7 for the game, which remained tied at 84-84.

James deferred to Gooden on the ensuing possession, then he came through with a low-post basket to put the Cavs ahead by two with 27 seconds left.

After a timeout, Donyell Marshall blocked Tayshaun Prince's shot in the lane, and James tipped a rebound -- off Lindsey Hunter's missed jumper -- to teammate Eric Snow, who tossed the ball down the court to kill time.

The Pistons had the ball back with 1.9 seconds left, but could not get a shot off.

Spurs stay alive

Duncan tied an NBA postseason record by making his first 12 shots and scored 36 points, Tony Parker scored 27, and the Spurs withstood losing two jump balls in the final 6.3 seconds to keep their title defense alive with a 98-97 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday night.

The Spurs still trail 3-2, but the way they played this game -- shooting more than 60 percent into the fourth quarter -- anything is possible.

James leads All-NBA team

James was the leading vote-getter on the All-NBA first team, which included Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash.

Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki and Miami center Shaquille O'Neal rounded out the first team, announced Wednesday by the league.

James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists to lead the Cavaliers. At the age of 21 years, 138 days, James is the youngest player in NBA history to be named to the first team.

-- The Associated Press