Cavs Drop Taj Gibson-Less Bulls To Take 3-2 Lead

The Cavs take Game Five 106-101 to move within a game of the Conference Finals.

Image via USA TODAY Sports/David Richard

In a game that defined "pivotal" the Cleveland Cavs had the advantage because they were in, you know, Cleveland. That's why you should strive for home-court. That advantage lived up to its name tonight, as the Cavs capitalized on a Pau Gasol-less Bulls squad to put Chicago one 'L' away from the offseason. As a team that was already shorthanded, the Bulls couldn't really afford to lose any other contributors. Unfortunately that's exactly what happened when Taj Gibson retaliated against a Matt Dellavedova leg lock, and got his ass booted from the game. It seems the refs missed Dellavedova's role, but the guy who returns fire always gets caught. How big of a difference that made in the final score is up to you, the reader.

Even without the services of their ejected forward, the Bulls pulled within two with less than a minute left. Driving to tie the game was D-Rose, and then this happened:

LeBron finished the night with 38 points, 12 boards and no turnovers (on top of that block and two others). And just like that he finds himself a game away from the Conference Finals for the fifth straight year.

With the Postseason really picking up steam, Twitter offered their two cents on both Taj's ejection, and LeBron's rejection (we'll add more about this subject if we find some that are worthy).

Oh, plus Cardale Jones had something to say to Joakim Noah:

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