By Josh Cohen

May 27, 2007: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
LeBron James flushed home a monster jam over the reach of Rasheed Wallace early in the fourth quarter as the Cavs beat the Pistons, 88-82, on Sunday night. Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"You learn from mistakes, you learn from losses, but this game doesn't put something on me where it's, 'Hey, I've finally done it.' This was a big game. We won it and we have to move on.''

--LeBron James on overcoming some pregame criticism and lifting the Cavs to a much-needed Game 3 victory over Detroit.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Sunday's top play: LeBron James dunks over the reach of Rasheed Wallace.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Block of the Night
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  • BlackBerry Assist of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    The numbers 10, 11, and 0 signify the points Jazz All-Star Mehmet Okur scored in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals. The Turkish star averaged 17.6 points during the regular season and 17.4 in the conference semifinals against Golden State. We should all anticipate more production from Okur in Game 4, so go ahead and select him for your Drive to the Finals lineup. If you need more help, read what the experts think.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    LeBron James, Cavs
    88-82 win vs. Pistons
    32 pts, 12-21 FG, 6-9 FT

    Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavs
    88-82 win vs. Pistons
    16 pts, 7-14 FG, 2-2 FT

    Rasheed Wallace, Pistons
    88-82 loss at Cavs
    16 pts, 5-11 FG, 4-5 FT

    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    LeBron James was by and large the stat sheet stuffer on Sunday with 32 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and two steals. But it was a different kind of ‘stuffer’ that engorged our eyes the most. With 7:22 remaining in the game, ‘The King’ exploded to the basket and flushed home a tenacious one-handed slam over the reach of Rasheed Wallace (Observe). Watch the Top 10 Playoff Dunks in NBA history and assess where LeBron's jam should rank all time.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Richard Hamilton, Pistons
    88-82 loss at Cavs
    2-8 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG, 7 pts

    Chauncey Billups, Pistons
    88-82 loss at Cavs
    4-14 FG, 2-8 3-pt FG,13 pts

    Donyell Marshall, Cavs
    88-82 win vs. Pistons
    0-3 FG, 0-3 3PT FG, 0 pts

    LEBRON SILENCES THE CRITICS
    We’ve all heard, seen, and read the latest headlines. We’ve each analyzed and evaluated his every move in the series. We’ve all asked ourselves the essential question; when will LeBron James be the ultimate difference maker? Some of our queries were answered Sunday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After passing up the final shot in Game 1 and misfiring on a spinning hook in the last seconds of Game 2, the three-time All-Star erupted for 32 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and, most importantly, hit a mid-range jumper with 16.3 seconds remaining in the game to ice Cleveland’s 88-82 triumph over Detroit. Although not as dramatic necessarily as Michael Jordan’s buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo in the 1989 playoffs or Magic Johnson's baby sky hook over Kevin McHale and Robert Parish in the 1987 Finals, LeBron's crucial shot may be the beginning of something very special.
    THE FLU IS BACK IN UTAH
    It’s referred to as “The Flu Game.” Nearly 10 years ago in Salt Lake City, basketball legend and American icon Michael Jordan overcame an intestinal stomach virus to erupt for an astounding 38 points in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Nauseus and feverish, the eventual six-time champion administered one of the greatest playoff victories in league history. Well today, the flu is back in Utah. Deron Williams, who racked up 31 points, eight assists and five steals in Utah’s Game 3 triumph over San Antonio, missed practice Sunday because of a stomach virus. The former Illinois standout is listed as probable to play in Game 4 on Monday, but the question exists, will this mysterious sickness drive the second-year sensation to glory or gory? Find out Monday when Game 4 tips off on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET at EnergySolutions Arena.