NBA playoffs scores 2015: LeBron James leads Cavaliers over Bulls in Game 5

This was the game the Cavaliers and their fans were waiting for. No more of that 10-for-30 junk or pounding the ball into the ground for 10 seconds before watching fadeaway 19-footers clank off the rim. That's not the player the Cleveland had watched lead the Heat to four straight NBA Finals and two championships. That player was the most efficient the NBA had ever seen. That's who the Cavaliers needed.

Tuesday night they got him as LeBron James played his best game of the year and one of the best of his career. He found the rim like a running back does the goal line, only touch was added when the ball was put up at the rim.

The result was a 38-point, 12-rebound, six-assist, three-block, zero-turnover performance and a 106-101 Game 5 win in front of a home crowd. James hit 14 of his 24 shots from the field. The Cavaliers now lead Chicago 3-2, and considering the state of the rest of the Eastern Conference (John Wall sidelined with a fractured wrist, Hawks looking depleted), at this moment it certainly seems as if they're poised to make a Finals run.

Of course, to get there, they're going to need this LeBron James to continue to show up. That his Game 5 performance couldn't lead to a blowout victory shows just how reliant the Cavaliers now are on James. Kevin Love is gone and Kyrie Irving, despite playing well on Tuesday and scoring 25 points, is hobbled. The Cavaliers pretty much need James to be perfect from here on out.

The Bulls need Pau Gasol. Once again on Tuesday night the Bulls struggled on offense. They hit just 40 percent of their shots from the field, which is right in line with how they've been shooting all series. Things have gotten worse the past two games, and it's no coincidence that it's happened since Paul Gasol was forced to the bench with a hamstring injury. This postseason the Bulls are scoring 104.3 points per 100 possessions with Gasol on the floor, per NBA.com. With him off the court that number falls to 97.9. Gasol is the one player on the Bulls who can get easy baskets. Derrick Rose may look spry, but even the shots he hits are difficult ones. Gasol can create double teams and score from the paint. Those are two things Chicago desperately needs.

The Rockets aren't ready to go home. Houston was able to stave off elimination with a 124-103 Game 5 home win Tuesday night. It was one of the best games they've played all postseason. Houston shot 54 percent from the field and had six players in double figures. It also got an MVP performance from James Harden, who had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Also impressive, the Rockets held the Clippers to 42 percent shooting. But this was a game Houston won with its offensive efficiency and energy, two things they were missing all series. Rockets fans wouldn't be crazy for feeling a bit optimistic despite their team being down 3-2.

Chris Paul is getting healthy. The Rockets winning Game 5 was, obviously, huge (it was, after all, a must win), but Chris Paul looking semi-spry is a major development. Paul played a total of 49 minutes in Games 3 and 4 after missing Games 1 and 2 with a hamstring injury. On Tuesday he played nearly 35, and he scored 22 points and had 10 assists. The Clippers are five points better per 100 possessions with Paul on the floor, per NBA.com. He's their leader and probably their best player. Him getting back to 100 percent could be what ends up deciding this second-round series.