Butler Returns to Lead Wizards Over Cavs

[March 14, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Caron Butler unleashed a month's worth of pent-up energy on his 28th birthday, returning to the Washington Wizards lineup after a 16-game injury absence to score 19 points in a 101-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.

Butler, whose hip injury sent the Wizards into a February slump, scored the game's opening basket, survived some rough contact and made six of his first eight shots. The players the Wizards affectionally refer to as "Tough Juice" finished 8-for-18 from the field and had five rebounds in 41 minutes.

Butler scored only one point in the fourth quarter, but at least he had a better game than basketball-model LeBron James, who marked his appearance on the cover of the April issue of Vogue with a spotty performance. He was called for an offensive foul in the final 20 seconds and his potential game-winning 27-footer hit the front of the rim and bounced away as time expired.

James finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and seven turnovers.

He went 9-for-22 from the field, including 1-for-7 from 3-point range and 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter. He was driving with a chance to tie -- the Cavaliers trailed 96-94 -- when he lowered his left shoulder into DeShawn Stevenson for a foul with 19.4 seconds to play.

The Wizards then went 4-for-5 from the line to take a four-point lead, but Damon Jones hit a 3-pointer with 8 seconds to play to make the score 100-99. Antonio Daniels made 1 of 2 free throws with 7.2 seconds remaining to restore a two-point lead. The Cavaliers called timeout and held the ball for the last shot, but James came up short.

The victory put the Wizards (32-32) back at .500 for the first time since they were 24-24 on Feb. 6.

Antawn Jamison had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Darius Songaila scored 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting for the Wizards, who nearly blew a nine-point lead in the final 4 1/2 minutes.

Sasha Pavlovic scored 19 of his season-high 24 points in the first half for the Cavaliers, but he sat out much of the second half because of foul trouble and fouled out with 1:19 to play.

Butler was aggressive from the opening whistle. He made a 20-foot shot on the game's first possession and soon added another 20-footer -- this time a turnaround, falling-backward jumper. He crashed to the floor belly-first while making a layup and drawing a blocking foul on Anderson Varejao, then popped up instantly and raised his arms to a roaring crowd.

Butler had 13 of Washington's first 31 points.

Notes: Butler's return moved Songaila out of the starting lineup. ... Cleveland's Ben Wallace returned after missing Wednesday's game with back spasms. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (bulging disc in back) missed his seventh straight game. The injuries prompted the Cavaliers to sign C Lance Allred from Idaho of the NBA's Development League to a 10-day contract.

[Associated Press; By JOSEPH WHITE]

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