Basketball On The Internet.

IT'S incredible but Maryborough's finest basketball export, Matty Dellavedova, is going to be hearing the boos from the fans in Chicago on Friday.

Delly, the battler who is the blueprint for anyone and everyone who has a dream and works his butt off to achieve it, instead will be cast as the villain after his "altercation" today with Taj Gibson.

The Bulls forward had a couple of shots at him - as you can read in the accompanying New Corp online story - which culminated in him shoving Delly to the floor as the Cavs' back-up guard and Aussie Olympian tried to block him out.

For a brief second, Dellavedova appeared to leg-lock Gibson who then kicked him, sparking players to rally around the Aussie and fans to jump from their seats.

Gibson was ejected and further penalty could ensue, which is sure to enliven a seething Bulls crowd.

The Bulls already are playing without injured big-man Pau Gasol but then the Cavs also are down Kevin Love for the rest of the season.

Dellavedova had two huge plays as Cleveland seized back control of its NBA Eastern Conference semi final with a 106-101 win at home.

With LeBron James showing no signs of a sprained ankle, he blistered Chicago for 38 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, three steals, three blocks and zero turnovers as the Cavaliers won Game 5 in their best-of-seven series to take a 3-2 lead.

James joins Shaquille O’Neal (2000) and Larry Bird (1986) as the only players in a play-off game since 1977-78 with at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and no turnovers.

He had 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the first half, before a Bulls fightback.

Dellavedova stroked a huge three with 2.1 seconds left in the third period - somehow erased by a Nikola Mirotic halfcourt prayer at the siren.

Then with 10:25 left, the incident with Gibson exploded.

“We just want to play ball,” James said. “But we’ll protect our brothers.”

He said Dellavedova was “the toughest guy on our team” and the uncompromising Aussie again showed his value with his second huge late play, the tap of an errant offensive rebound to teammate Iman Shumpert.

In Houston for Game 5 of the Rockets’ Western Conference semi final against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Rockets’ James Harden had a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to force a Game 6 124-103.

The series returns to LA with the Clippers leading 3-2, Rockets centre Dwight Howard with a 20-point, 15-rebound double.

Blake Griffin led the Clips with 30 points and 16 boards, Chris Paul with a 22-point, 10-assist double.

Online

Cavs react to Delly's (mis)treatment at: http://bit.ly/1Ix6Xkh