LeBron James' Best Playoff Performances

With the Heat facing elimination in Game 6 of the Finals, James shook off a slow first half to score 16 fourth-quarter points, including a key three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. He finished with his second triple-double of the 2013 Finals, tallying 32 points (on 11-for-26 shooting), 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the Heat's 103-100 OT victory over the Spurs.

James capped off a triple-double (30 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds) with a buzzer-beating, game-winning layup in overtime that gave the Heat a win in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference finals series against the Pacers. According to ESPN Stats & Information, James was the first player in NBA playoff history to record a triple-double and buzzer-beating game-winner in the same game.

James was heavily criticized for his play in Miami's Finals loss to Dallas in 2011, but it was hard to quibble with the three-time MVP's performance a year later against Oklahoma City. Exhibit A was Game 4. Just minutes after leaving the game with leg cramps, James returned to nail a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:50 left as the Heat defeated the Thunder 104-98. LeBron finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists for the Heat, who took a 3-1 series lead en route to winning James' first championship two nights later.

With the Heat facing elimination, James erupted for 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a 98-79 victory. James joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to post a 45-15-5 line in a playoff game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Even more impressive, he made 19-of-26 shots from the field, including 12 in a row after missing his first attempt.

Miami trailed 2-1 in the series and got off to an awful start in Game 4. But James responded with an all-around gem that included 40 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists as he teamed up with Dwyane Wade to spark a 101-93 victory, with the two stars scoring 38 consecutive Miami points at one stage. The Heat won the next two games, too, to close out the upstart Pacers.

Fresh off 40- and 39-point performances against Chicago, James kept up his torrid pace by going for 37 points while adding 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his fifth career triple-double. Perhaps most notable: LeBron, not known for his deep shooting, nailed six three-pointers in Cleveland's 121-98 rout.

James had a series of spectacular performances in this series (click on for more), the last being a 37-point, 14-rebound, 12-assist outing that kept Cleveland alive (the Cavaliers, though, would be eliminated in Game 6 at Orlando as LeBron struggled). LeBron scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, which started with the Cavs trailing by a point and ended with their pulling away for a 112-102 victory.

This game will be remembered for having the signature shot of James' career: a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer to punctuate his 35-point effort and even the series at 1-1.

Before his Game 2 buzzer-beater, James opened the series by setting a franchise record with 49 points (on 20-of-30 shooting from the field). But Orlando rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to win 107-106.

Hawks forward Josh Smith described James as being "out of his mind." That was a fitting summation of LeBron's performance: 47 points and 15-of-25 shooting from the field, along with 12 rebounds, eight assists and only one turnover.

James scored 45 points and Paul Pierce countered with 41 in a memorable Game 7 duel. Pierce's Celtics edged James' Cavaliers 97-82.

James famously scored Cleveland's last 25 points (and 48 overall) in a double-overtime victory. The Cavaliers also won Game 6 to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history and become the third team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the conference finals.

LeBron's game-winning, last-second layup lifted the Cavaliers to a 121-120 overtime victory, gave them a 3-2 series lead and capped a performance in which he finished with 45 points, seven rebounds and six assists.