For the second straight home game, LeBron James, Daniel Gibson and Co. got it done in crunch time as the Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 91-87 in Game Four to even their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final series at two apiece- setting up a pivotal Game Five at The Palace on Thursday night.

After struggling yet again in the third quarter where they were outscored by nine to erase a seven-point halftime lead, the Cavs stepped up their play for the second straight game in the final quarter by outscoring Detroit 26-20 to level the series.

In particular, James turned it up. Coming off a strong fourth quarter in which he made very difficult shots to get his team an 88-82 victory in Game 3, the superstar had another big finish to help turn the tide in his team’s favor.

LeBron scored 13 of his game high 25 in the final 12 minutes. A three-point play by the 22 year-old star helped key a 13-4 run. An integral part of that run was power forward Drew Gooden, who twice knocked down wide open baseline jumpers from opposite ends on his way to a solid 19 point, eight rebound performance on 8-of-14 shooting.

James capped off the run by making a very tough step back jumper just inside the circle over Tayshaun Prince to put his team up 87-79 with 3:21 left. It was almost an identical big shot to the one he made in Game 3 down the stretch.

But the Pistons never gave up and were able to make things interesting down the stretch by scoring six of the next seven to slice it to three. A key play would then come. After a Rasheed Wallace block and steal, Chauncey Billups rushed an off balance three which didn’t go. The normally unflappable Piston point guard panicked. Instead of resetting for a good shot, he forced the issue and settled with plenty of time left.

It was part of a forgettable final few minutes for Billups who also had an uncharacteristic turnover with his team down four and under 60 seconds to go. Though the guard scored better in this one pacing his team with 23 (6-of-16 FG, 9-of-10 FT), he didn’t finish well and turned the ball over five times and only had two assists. Billups was also a dreadful 2-for-9 from downtown.

With his team down four late, he also wasted too much time circling around in the lane before Antonio McDyess’ tip-in which cut it to 89-87 with 4.7 seconds left. The one-time Knick came off the bench for 12 points, five rebounds, two blocks and three assists in 23 productive minutes.

They quickly fouled James. In the past, he has been questioned for not stepping up and making the clutch free throws. This time, after Richard Hamilton tried his best imitation of LeBron on Gilbert Arenas last year, the Cav calmly swished both to salt the game away. It completed a five-for-five performance from the charity stripe in the deciding quarter.

After a brilliant Game 3 in which he had 32 points, nine boards and nine assists, LeBron finished with 25 on 8-of-19 from the field including 8-for-9 from the line. He also added seven rebounds, three steals and dropped a game high 11 assists in a huge 44 minutes.

You definitely have to give him plenty of credit. After how he was questioned after the first two games and of course not having the call go his way at the end of a tight Game 2, LeBron has stepped up his game and played like the best player on the floor to take both home games and knot the series up turning it into a best-of-three situation with Games 5 and 7 in Detroit.

Though he felt he got fouled by Hamilton in Game 2, afterwards during the postgame interview, LeBron said his team was a “no-excuse team.”

By focusing on the next two games and taking the right attitude, he has delivered along with his teammates. Speaking of which, how about the play of rookie guard Daniel Gibson. All the second round pick out of Texas did was deliver a career high 21 including a perfect 12-for-12 from the line in 35 big minutes. He only made four of seven field goals including one trey but he took the ball hard to the lane and drew fouls. Something Prince told TNT’s Craig Sager shouldn’t have happened. That maybe they “didn’t respect him enough.”

Gibson’s big game was needed because starter Larry Hughes was playing through a partial tear of the plantar fascia. To the struggling guard’s credit, he gutted out 16 minutes making the first shot of the game on a turnaround jumper in the lane. It was his only basket.

This game was really about the trio of LeBron, Gibson and Gooden who combined for 65 of their team’s 91 points. They were the only three Cavs to get double digits.

Donyell Marshall also came off the bench to score seven.

For Detroit, it’s back to the drawing board. While they did get better games out of guards Billups and Hamilton (19 pts on 9-of-21 FG), they still looked a little out of synch. As Charles Barkley pointed out, the Pistons easily could’ve been swept already in this series because Cleveland has really outplayed them in all four games. They won the first two on experience at home but didn’t come up with the goods when it mattered on the road.

And you also saw some frustration from Rasheed Wallace who picked up his fifth technical of the playoffs by tossing his headband. Two more would mean an automatic one-game suspension. The emotional big man also took off his jersey headed back to the locker room and flung it over his head landing comically on someone’s head walking in the same direction.

Got to love Rasheed. He’ll need a better Game 5 after only getting nine points, five boards and misfired on all four three’s.
The Pistons also got next to nothing from Chris Webber. One basket, three rebounds and one assist along with two missed free throws in just 20 minutes just isn’t going to get it done. If the former Michigan standout wants ‘his championship’ so badly, he needs to play a lot more inspired.

Like Barkley, you have to wonder why energizer Jason Maxiell only got 11 minutes. He did score four and block a shot. And whenever he’s out there, the ex-Cincinnati product makes things happen on both sides of the floor. It would be wise if Flip Saunders got him in Game 5 more. He plays with a lot of purpose.

Cleveland has to like the position they’re in. They have rallied for the second straight year from 0-2 down to tie a series against the Pistons. Last year, they took Game 5 before losing the last two to drop a tough EC Semi series.

This year, they know they could’ve taken either of the first two games on the road. Of course, it’s a lot different if you win. You don’t get credit for coming close.

We’re really going to find out a lot about whether LeBron can take this team on his back and get them to their first NBA Finals. Especially against a battle tested Detroit club.

It should be exciting. More than you can say for the disappointing performance of Utah, who could be eliminated by San Antonio tonight in five games. You can’t kill the dynamic duo of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. Both have done their part. Williams in particular has been utterly brilliant in trying to carry his team.

Has anyone seen Mehmet Okur? Andrei Kirilenko at least shows up on the defensive end. Both have not distinguished themselves in this series. Part of that is the Spurs. But they can play much better than they’ve shown.