NBA Game Summary - Cleveland at Washington

Washington, DC (Basketball News) - LeBron James scored 41 points and put in the winning layup with 5.7 seconds left, as the Cleveland Cavaliers edged Washington, 97-96, in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

James set a record for most points by a player in his first road playoff contest. He shot 16-of-28 from the field to give the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series with Game 4 set for Sunday night at the Verizon Center.

It marked Cleveland’s first playoff road win in almost 11 years, when the Cavs topped the New York Knicks on April 29, 1995 in Game 2 of a first- round series.

Larry Hughes tallied 16 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas totaled 15 points and eight rebounds before fouling out for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers.

Gilbert Arenas had 34 points for the Wizards, but missed a potential winning three-pointer at the buzzer. Caron Butler had 20 points and 11 rebounds for Washington, while Antawn Jamison finished with 14 points and 10 boards.

James’ putback in the lane, after Washington’s Jared Jeffries nearly tied him up, gave the Cavaliers the lead at 95-93 with 30.7 seconds left.

Arenas’ three-point play, a driving layup plowing into James, plus a free throw, moved the Wizards back in front with 23.4 seconds remaining.

James then held the ball before driving the lane, eluded Antonio Daniels and double-clutched a shot over Michael Ruffin to give the Cavs the lead again.

Arenas’ three-point try from the left wing at the buzzer rimmed out.

The Wizards used a 15-4 run to grab a 26-15 lead in the opening quarter before holding a 26-19 advantage after 12 minutes. That cushion grew to as many as 14 in the second quarter, as two free throws by Jamison moved the Wizards to a 52-38 lead with 3:02 to play in the half.

Washington was ahead 58-50 at the break behind 13 points from Arenas and 12 each from Jamison and Butler.

The Cavaliers steadily cut into their deficit and tied the game at 67 on an Ilgauskas layup with 3:39 remaining in the third quarter. One foul shot by Ilgauskas had the contest even at 71 going into the fourth.

A Ruffin tip-in moved the Wizards to a 92-88 lead with just over two minutes left, but James came right back with a three-point play. One free throw by Arenas had the Wizards ahead 93-91 with 1:36 left before Donyell Marshall made two at the line to tie the game with 50.8 seconds remaining.

Flip Murray then came up with a steal that ultimately led to James giving the Cavs the lead with 30.7 seconds showing.