Delonte West went for a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds left to give the Cavaliers a 100-97 victory and a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.
Delonte West had his best playoff game in his career with 21 points included five 3-pointers.
Lebron had his usual 34 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists but was limited with 5 fouls.
DeShawn Stevenson was hit with a flagrant foul in the second quarter when he hit Lebron James on the head. James kept his balance and got up and stepped toward Stevenson. They exchanged words but teammates stepped in between.
“If we was on the park, something definitely would have escalated,” James said. “But, you know, I guess that’s what they want to do. They want to hurt LeBron James this series. It ain’t working.”
“That’s how it goes,” Stevenson said. “It was a big game for us.”
After that, the Cavaliers outscored the Wizards 15-4 to end the the first half.
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– Brian Windhorst said, “this game was the sixth time LeBron James has beaten the Wizards with a pass or a shot in the final minute of a playoff game. His short jumper in Game 3 in 2006, his baseline layup past Antawn Jamison in Game 5 the same year, his pass out of the double team to Larry Hughes, who passed to Damon Jones for the winner in Game 6 (hockey assist). Last year in Game 3 he hit Sasha Pavlovic out of a trap for a 3-point to clinch Game 3 here at the Verizon Center. Then this year his two shots in Game 1 and the pass to Delonte West today.”
– LeBron James became the 170th player in NBA history to record 1,000 career points in the postseason. He becomes the 3rd youngest in NBA history to reach that milestone, trailing only Kobe Bryant (22 years and 263 days old) and Tony Parker (23 years and 23 days old). James is 23 years and 119 days old Sunday.
– Bullets Forever on the Wizards play, “Gilbert sucked in the first half, killing the Wizards with his turnovers, and it was his man (Delonte West) who hit the game-winner, but if he doesn’t hit that impossible shot, we don’t even have a chance to win. DeShawn did an admirable job on LeBron, forcing him into the right spots in the Wizards’ zone, but his terrible shot selection down the stretch caused wasted possessions. Caron Butler was the man in the fourth quarter, and also played great defense on LeBron, but he was nowhere to be found in the first three quarters. Jamison and Haywood both played admirably offensively, but provided no resistance as Cleveland grabbed all the offensive rebounds they needed. Roger Mason and AD were great, but didn’t play enough, Darius Songaila was awful on the glass, and Andray Blatche even worse, but both helped the offense with their movement.”
– The latest on Lebron James vs DeShawn, Jay-Z Makes a DeShawn Diss Record
“The most ridiculously entertaining and completely ridiculous subplot of this Washington Wizards-Cleveland Cavaliers playoff series has reached another stratosphere, after my moles informed me that hip hop legend Jay-Z made a diss record on Friday about DeShawn Stevenson.
You read that right. Jay-Z, the Jigga Man, H-to-the-Izzo, Mr. Beyonce Knowles, made diss record about DeShawn Stevenson that was played at the D.C. night spot Love on Friday night, according to several witnesses. I have not heard the song or the lyrics but I was told that Jay-Z freestyled over the beat for the track, “Blow The Whistle” by rapper Too Short.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdluT_DOxw&feature=related[/youtube]
Should DeShawn get suspended in game 5?
“people who know DeShawn have told me they think he’s crazy enough to attempt to go head hunting for LeBron in Game 5 if he thinks it is over just because of how personal this has all gotten. We’ll see.”
– Is it over yet?
LeBron James was asked whether the Wizards could come back and make a series of it.
“Do I think they can do it?” James asked before offering his blunt answer. “No.”
Brian Windhorst said Wizards’ fans think it’s over:
“Seemed to be three emotions coming from folks at Verizon Center. One, they were frustrated they’d just lost another close game to the Cavs, who they are still sure they are better than. Two, they think LeBron is a cry baby for complaining about the fouls. Three, this series is over.”