LeBron James passes Michael Jordan on career playoff minutes list

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James passed former Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan for ninth on the all-time career playoff minutes list.

SI Wire | Jun 14, 2015

LeBron James passes Michael Jordan on career playoff minutes list /

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James passed former Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan for ninth on the all-time list of career playoff minutes played.

James, who entered the game with 7,470 career playoff minutes, played 34 minutes in the first three quarters of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, surpassing Jordan (7,474) and Bill Russell (7,497). Next up on the list is Magic Johnson at 7,538, Tim Duncan is the all-time leader at 9,152.

Jordan played 179 career postseason games, while James was playing in his 177th. James entered Game 5 averaging 41.8 minutes per game in the playoffs, his most since the 2012 postseason.

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Earlier in the series, James set a record by scoring 123 points in the first three games of the NBA Finals. James's triple double—40 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists—wasn't enough as the Warriors beat the Cavaliers 104–91 to take a 3-2 Finals lead. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 37 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.

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GALLERY: Sports Illustrated's best photos from Game 5 of NBA Finals

SI's Best Photos From Game 5 of the NBA Finals

Steph Curry played like the league's MVP in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, scoring 37 points to move Golden State to within one victory of claiming the NBA title.

Steph Curry drained a three for the ages late in the fourth quarter, dribbling behind his back and crossing over Matthew Dellavedova before stepping back and taking the shot. Curry sank seven three-pointers on the night.

Andre Iguodala gets a high-five from Steph Curry after an offensive rebound and put back in which he also drew a foul. Iguodala finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Shaun Livingston drives against LeBron James and James Jones. The Warriors will try to win their first title since 1975 on Tuesday night in Cleveland.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

LeBron James directs traffic for the Cavs. The four-time MVP scored 40 points and added 14 rebounds and 11 assists.

J.R. Smith pressures Steph Curry on a shot. Curry converted 13-of-23 from the field.

Tristan Thompson keeps Andre Iguodala from defending LeBron James.

The Warriors got three-pointers out of five players, including this one from Klay Thompson, who scored 12 points.

Tristan Thompson was Cleveland's second-leading scorer -- 19 points in 40 minutes of action.

Andre Iguodala lunges at LeBron James on this shot attempt. James made 15 of his 34 attempts and sank seven free throws.

LeBron James scored or assisted on 16 of Cleveland's 17 field goals in the half. He struggled to supply the same power in the third quarter, scoring just four points and handing out one assists. (Text credit: AP)

Cavs coach David Blatt was asked repeatedly in the postgame media conference about giving Timofey Mozgov only nine minutes of playing time. Blatt's response was that he thought a smaller lineup gave Cleveland it's best chance of winning.

Matthew Dellavedova played 42 minutes but scored only five points.

Metallica played the national anthem before Game 5.

The scene inside Oracle Arena.

- Dan Gartland

Published Jun 14, 2015

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