Wizards Beat Cavs 104-92

Coach Brown Rests Starters In Potential Playoff Preview

In what could be a preview of one of the most hyped first round playoff series in some time, the Washington Wizards defeated the Cavs by a 104-92 count, wrapping up a second straight playoff berth in the process.

The game marked the return of LeBron James, who scared the living hell out of all of us by spraining his ankle last week with the playoffs just on the horizon.  James played just 29 minutes, scoring 17 points, and playing without any notice of a limp.  With the Cavs playoff faet already sealed as the #4 seed, coach Mike Brown rested most of his starters, with only Flip Murray playing more than 30 minutes.

The Wizards were in control of this one from the outset, cruising to a 12 point halftime lead, and a 88-62 lead after three quarters.  The Cavs actually went on a 15-0 run to start the fourth quarter, making this one interesting, and forcing Washington coach Eddie Jordan to reinsert his starters, who he had planned on resting for the final stanza.

Per usual, Gilbert Arenas tore the Cavs up.  Arenas scorched the Cavs for 35 on 14-26 shooting.  Caron Butler returned to action for the Wizards, and scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.  Butler had missed the last five games, all of which were Wizards losses.  Washington seemingly had the #5 seed all but locked up, but the aforementioned losing streak had them scrambling for a playoff berth before last night, and they likely need to win their final two games to get the #5 seed.