LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A one-year break for LeBron James and a nine-year hiatus for his franchise came to an end on Saturday: James and the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the conference finals.
James poured in 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists in the Lakers' 119-96 Game 5 victory over the Houston Rockets, storming back to take the Western Conference semifinals series 4-1 after Houston upset L.A. in Game 1.
The Lakers' star improved to 37-10 in close-out opportunities, extending his streak to five straight wins in that situation.