Final Score: Cavaliers 112, Bulls 102

When it's crunch time, LeBron James turns up his game into 3rd gear.

With his Cavaliers tied with the Bulls after 3 quarters, James took it upon himself to dominate the 4th quarter and win Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs' first round series for his team. LeBron scored 15 of his 40 points in the final period, including a stretch of 11 straight points that put the game out of reach.

The Cavaliers wound up defeating the Bulls 112-102 when he was done.

James totaled 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists in this game that gave the 1-seed Cavs a 2-0 series lead over the 8th-seeded Bulls. James shot an outstanding 16 for 23 from the field, including 2 for 4 from downtown and added a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line. He also added 2 massive blocks on the defensive end and a couple of thunderous dunks that are a staple of his offensive game. Bulls rookie forward James Johnson was on the receiving end of a massive James dunk that is sure to make the Sportscenter top 10 highlight reel tomorrow morning.

"In Game 1, I was very hesitant and trying to feel out the defense too much," said James. "They were giving me the jump shot and I just wasn't taking it. I watched a lot of film from Game 1 and knew as soon as I caught it they would back up and I could get an opportunity to shoot a jumper. I just had to take it."

James passed on many of these open jumpers in the first half, but took them and made them in the second. His great shooting percentage was crucial in this close game.

Mo Williams added 12 points and 6 assists for the Cavs. Anthony Parker hit 3 three pointers and had 9 points. Antawn Jamison had 14, and Jarmario Moon contributed 12 points off the bench. Shaquille O'Neal had 8 points and 7 rebounds, but was outplayed by Bulls center Joakim Noah.

Noah, who has been a mainstay in the media over the past couple of days, led the Bulls with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Yesterday, he was quoted as calling Celtics forward Kevin Garnett a "dirty player", and then went on to say that the city of Cleveland was a depressing, boring place. Cavs fans booed him all night, but he was the one man who kept his team in the game.

Derrick Rose had 23 points and 8 assists, but shot just 10 for 24 from the field. They need a better percentage from Rose if he's going to take 24 shots. Luol Deng added 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Bulls, who were in the game up until the point when LeBron James took over.

This first round series heads back to Chicago for game 3, where the Bulls must win to keep hope of an upset. Chicago took the 1-seed Boston Celtics to a 7-game series last year, and are hoping to do the same this year.

In order to do so, they need to find some answer for LeBron James. The problem is, there's not a coach or player in the entire league that has been able to find that answer this season.

Like James said in his post-game interview, the Bulls are giving James room to shoot jumpers. The problem is, this added space lets him build momentum for drives to the rim, as well as giving him the needed room to feel comfortable on his jump shot. The Bulls continue to throw different defenders at James, but nothing seemed to work in Game 2.

We'll see if the Bulls can find a way to contain the league's MVP in game 3.