AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- LeBron James used one of the most spectacular performances in playoff history to lift the Cleveland Cavaliers to the verge of their greatest season.

James' career playoff-high 48 points -- including 29 of his team's final 30 points -- carried the Cavaliers to within a win of the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history with a 109-107 double-overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons last night.

James made a go-ahead layup with 2.2 seconds left and Detroit's Chauncey Billups missed a shot in the lane on the ensuing possession.

It was one of the many driving shots that James made look easy.

"Why should I be surprised? I was making a lot of great moves," James said. "They are definitely a great defensive team, but I was determined to attack."

The Pistons blew a seven-point lead with 3:15 left in regulation and lost the third consecutive game in the series after winning the first two at home.

Game 6 is tomorrow night in Cleveland and, if necessary, Game 7 will be Monday night back at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit can only hope the series ends like its last postseason matchup with the Cavaliers. The Pistons won the first two games of the conference semifinals last year, then lost three in a row and needed to win on the road and then at home in Game 7.

James was 18 of 33 from the field, making both of his 3-point attempts, and 10 of 14 from the free throw line. He also had 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals in a performance that might end up be a defining game of his career.

"We tried to trap him and get it out of his hands, but he attacked," Pistons coach Flip Saunders said. "We'll definitely have to do something different next time."

James showed he's human, though, missing everything on a shot just before the shot clock expired with 6.6 seconds left in the first overtime that gave Detroit a chance to force another period.

James put Billups on the line with 3.1 seconds left and he made two free throws to make tie the score, 100-100.

The Cavaliers have prided themselves on not being a one-man show, but James just about did it alone against a team in the conference finals for the fifth consecutive year.

"Somebody told me that in the locker room that he scored 29 of our last 30 points and I could not believe it," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "Everybody keeps asking for more, and he keeps giving more. I feel bad that my words don't do justice to what he did."

The Pistons, meanwhile, seemed to finally put a complete game together and each of their starters scored at least 10.

Richard Hamilton scored 26, Chauncey Billups had 21 and Chris Webber scored 20. Rasheed Wallace had 17 points and Tayshaun Prince added 10.

It wasn't enough.