LeBron Makes Wizards Pay

James pours in 32 as Cleveland takes 1-0 series lead
By Mitch Pritchard,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 19, 2008 4:58 PM CDT
LeBron Makes Wizards Pay
Cleveland Cavaliers' Delonte West (13) is fouled by Washington Wizards' Gilbert Arenas on a shot attempt in the third quarter today. West scored 16 points in Cleveland's 93-86 win.   (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Round one went to LeBron. Determined to make the Wizards swallow their words, LeBron James scored 32 points, making two tough shots in traffic down the stretch as the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the NBA playoffs with an intense 93-86 win over Washington today. Called "overrated" by Washington's DeShawn Stevenson, James scored 20 points in the second half to lead the defending Eastern Conference champions.

James sat out the early part of the fourth quarter to rest a troublesome back. But once he returned to the floor, the superstar forward came through. With the score tied 84-84, James knifed his way down the lane and hit a layup between Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood with 1:37 remaining. James then powered past Stevenson and dropped a floater with 55 seconds left in the game. (More NBA stories.)

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