Cavaliers drop fifth straight

Associated Press

WASHINGTOn

Jordan Crawford scored 31 points and John Wall added 24 to lead the Washington Wizards to a 101-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

Antawn Jamison scored 29 in his return to Washington but missed a 3-point attempt to tie the game with 35 seconds to play. It was Jamison’s first appearance in the Verizon Center since being traded from the Wizards to Cleveland in February 2010.

JaVale McGee had nine points and 12 rebounds for Washington, which snapped a six-game losing streak.

Kyrie Irving scored 20 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and Ryan Hollins had 15 for the Cavaliers, who lost their fifth straight.

The Wizards held an 82-81 lead with about seven minutes to play. Crawford then spurred them on a 14-5 run that gave Washington a 96-86 lead with 3:45 left. Crawford scored eight points during the run, including two 3-pointers.

Irving led a furious Cleveland rally down the stretch, scoring eight of the Cavaliers’ nine points in the final 21/2 minutes.

Irving’s layup with about a minute left cut Washington’s lead to 100-97. Jamison had a chance to tie it on Cleveland’s next possession, but his 3-pointer was off target.

Cleveland was still down three when Irving went to the line with 7 seconds left. Irving made the first free throw, but missed the second and McGee came down with the rebound.

After Wall made one of two free throws, Anthony Parker missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Jamison scored 15 points in the first quarter and Cleveland led 33-24 after one. The 33 points were the most Cleveland has scored in any opening quarter this season.