Cleveland open NBA playoff campaign with a win

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AFP) — LeBron James scored 32 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 93-86 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday in the opening game of their National Basketball Association playoff series.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who host game two of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series on Monday.

The fiercely contested game featured several shifts in momentum. James, who sank 12 of his final 15 shots, carried the Cavaliers in the end.

Cleveland's superstar knotted the score at 84-84 with a pair of free throws with 2:38 to play, then scored on a drive to the basket to give the Cavaliers a two-point edge with 1:37 left.

After the Wizards failed to score, James's running...