James puts Cavs over Wizards

By Steve Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – LeBron James scored 41 points,
including the game-winning basket with 5.7 seconds left, as the
Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards 97-96 on
Friday to assume control of their playoff series.

The Cavaliers lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference
quarter-final 2-1 and have regained homecourt advantage.

A three-point play by guard Gilbert Arenas with 23.4
seconds remaining gave the Wizards a 96-95 lead.

However, James responded with a lay-up in heavy traffic,
softly lofting the ball over the outstretched arms of the
Wizards’ Michael Ruffin for the game winner.

James hit 16-of-28 shots from the floor, including
three-of-five from beyond the arc, while Larry Hughes added 16
and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 15 for the Cavaliers.

Arenas scored 34 points, including 17 in the final quarter,
on 12-of-25 shooting to pace the Wizards. Caron Butler scored
20 points with 11 rebounds in a losing effort.

The Wizards held a 58-50 lead at the half behind 13 points
from Arenas and 12 apiece by Butler and Antawn Jamison.

James started slowly, but scored 16 of his 22 first-half
points in the second quarter to keep the Cavaliers in the game.

The two-time All-Star, who averaged 31 points per game
during the regular season, hit nine-of-15 shots before
intermission.

Ilgauskas scored seven points in the third quarter as
Cleveland outscored the Wizards 21-13 to knot the game at 71-71
entering the final frame.

Game Four of the series is at the Verizon Center in
Washington on Sunday.