News / Sports
NBA Scores: Cavaliers Hold off Wizards to Take 2-0 Series Lead
Drew Gooden scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds while LeBron James finished with 27 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers held off a Washington Wizards fourth quarter push to win 109-102 and take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
The Cavaliers were forced to use all their weapons on a night when LeBron was still feeling the effects of a sprained left ankle. James scored just four points in the opening quarter but Larry Hughes hit a pair of three-pointers and the Cavs played tough defense to keep the score even, 23-23 after one.
Drew Gooden owned the second quarter, as the Cavaliers big man went for 15 in the quarter, all with under six minutes left in the half. Cleveland need the huge effort as Washington had seven different players score in the quarter but none took over like Gooden. At the end of the half the Cavaliers held a 51-48 lead and LeBron was in the books with eight points.
Cleveland opened the third quarter on a 10-3 run to push their lead to ten and by the end of the quarter their lead was 75-63 and looking safe.
The Cavs increased their lead to 15 early in the fourth but the Wizards weren’t ready to pack it in. After Washington cut their deficit to seven the Cavaliers pulled it together and kept the Wizards at arms length but Antawn Jamison’s three-pointer with 39 seconds on the clock made the score 101-97 and the Cavaliers work wasn’t done. Cleveland had to hit eight free-throws over the final 39 seconds to seal the win and grab a two game advantage eon Washington.
Jamison led all scorers with 31 points.
Both teams will meet in Washington on Saturday for game thereof their best of seven series.
