Cavs move to brink of sweeping Wizards

Apr 29, 2007, 1:05 GMT

Washington, DC - LeBron James posted 30 points and nine assists, as the Cleveland Cavaliers moved to the brink of sweeping the Washington Wizards in the first round of the playoffs with a 98-92 win at the Verizon Center.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 24 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who moved ahead 3-0 in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Sasha Pavlovic and Larry Hughes both netted 11 points, and Drew Gooden added 10 points and 12 boards for Cleveland, which has never swept a team in the playoffs.

Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in the nation's capital.

Antawn Jamison had 38 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards, who are on the verge of being eliminated in the postseason by the Cavaliers for a second straight year. Antonio Daniels contributed 20 points and 13 assists, while Jarvis Hayes added 15 points for the Wizards, who rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit yet failed to complete it with a win.

It was another defeat for the Wizards without Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, who are essentially out for the playoffs with injuries.

Holding just a four-point lead, Cleveland gave Washington an opportunity to rally by committing a shot-clock violation. After trading possessions, though, Washington's Etan Thomas converted one free throw with 37.5 seconds left for a one-possession game, 93-90.

Pavlovic, who was the guilty party on the shot-clock violation and whose foul about a minute prior gave Jamison three free throws for a four-point margin, drilled a three from the right corner with 25.4 seconds remaining, sealing Cleveland's win.

Roger Mason got a good look on a three-pointer and Darius Songaila's shot got blocked by Pavlovic. James' two free throws with 5.7 seconds on the clock solidified the victory.

Cleveland took an early lead on a 7-0 spurt finished by Hughes' trey with 3:53 remaining in the first for a 19-13 margin, and led 26-22 heading into the second.

The Cavs blew the game open in the second. They went on a 13-4 run midway through the stanza as Pavlovic's layup with 4:01 to go put them ahead 48-36. Cleveland held a comfortable 61-44 halftime advantage.

Washington promptly responded in the third, coming out of the locker room on a 21-4 burst, and Jamison's layup tied the score at 65 midway through the third. The Cavs reclaimed the lead, 77-75, heading into the fourth.

Cleveland started to pull away by scoring six straight with the score deadlocked at 81 and 9:06 on the clock. Gooden's pair of free throws with 4:42 left put the Cavs up 87-81.

Game Notes

The Wizards shot 6-for-20 in the fourth quarter...The Cavaliers eliminated Washington in six games last year and were then ousted by Detroit in the next round...The Wizards are in the postseason for a third consecutive year and are meeting Cleveland in the playoffs for the fourth time. The only time Washington defeated the Cavaliers in the postseason was when it took two of three games in the first round of the 1977 NBA Playoffs...The Cavs lead the all-time playoff series with Washington by an 11-7 count...Teh Cavaliers held a 48-33 advantage on the glass.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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