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Wizards attempt to stave off elimination versus Cavaliers

Wed 30th, April 2008

(Sports Network) - The Washington Wizards try to stay alive in the postseason, as they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Quicken Loans Arena for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.

Cleveland leads this best-of-seven series 3-1. If necessary, Game 6 is scheduled for Friday at the Verizon Center.

The Cavaliers took a commanding lead in the series with a big win on Sunday in Washington. Delonte West's three-pointer with just 5.4 seconds on the clock lifted No. 4 Cleveland over the fifth-seeded Wizards, 100-97, in Game 4 of the set.

With the game deadlocked at 97, Cavs superstar LeBron James drew the defense and kicked the ball to West in the left corner, who calmly stroked a three to give the Cavs the 100-97 lead.

After a timeout, Washington went to Gilbert Arenas at the top of the circle. The sharpshooter created some space and got a look at a three over West but his shot bounced harmlessly off the rim.

James had 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for the Cavaliers, who bounced back from an embarrassing 108-72 loss in Game 3. West added 21 points and finished 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Antawn Jamison had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards, while Caron Butler ended with 19 points in the victory. Arenas scored 10 points and was just 3-of-8 from the floor.

The Wizards, who have dropped five of their last six Game 5s in the postseason, have lost five straight playoff games on the road.

Washington has lost five straight contests when facing elimination from the postseason.

Cleveland has won two in a row when it has the chance to eliminate its opponent from the playoffs. The Cavaliers are 6-6 all-time in Games 5s in the postseason.

The Cavaliers have defeated Washington two straight years in the opening round of the playoffs. They were seeded No. 2 last year and swept the seventh-seeded Wizards in the quarterfinals of the conference playoffs. The year before, Cleveland needed six games to dispose of the Wizards. Led by James last season, the Cavs breezed past Washington before beating both New Jersey and Detroit in six games to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA finals against San Antonio. However, the Spurs broke out the brooms on Cleveland with a sweep for their fourth NBA title in nine years.

Where the players come to play and STAY.