CLEVELAND (AFP) - LeBron James didn't let a sprained ankle slow him down as he played his best game of the post-season, scoring 38 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Chicago 106-101 in game five of their play-off series.

James, who levelled the series at 2-2 with a buzzer-beating jump shot in game four, also tallied 12 rebounds and six assists on Tuesday for the Cavaliers who took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series.

In the late game, Dwight Howard finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds and James Harden had a triple double as the Houston Rockets forced a game six with a 124-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.