Monroe, Ga. 5/1/2007 10:45:00 AM
News / Sports

NBA Scores: Cavaliers Use Late Charge to Beat Wizards, Sweep Series

LeBron James scored 31 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 7 assists while Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 points and 19 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 97-90 to earn their first ever playoff sweep.

The Wizards were in front 80-77 with 5:37 left in the game but the Cavaliers ran off the next six points to take a three point lead and never trailed again. Washington pulled to within one on a Darius Songaila bucket with 1:47 remaining only to have the Cavs close the game on an 8-2 run.

Washington led by as many as nine in the third quarter but the Wizards could never deliver the knock out blow.

Cleveland, among the NBA leaders in team free-throw percentage throughout the season, drained 28-31 from the line. Their only three misses coming from LeBron who shot 14-17 from the line.

Antawn Jamison once again led the Wizards with 31 points in the loss.

The Cavaliers will now face the winner of the New Jersey Nets Toronto Raptors series. As the number two seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs the Cavaliers will enjoy home court advantage in the second round.

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