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Wizards face Cavaliers without Arenas, Butler

Apr 6, 2007 - 5:30 PM Cleveland (45-31) at Washington (41-34) 8:00 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The news keeps getting worse for the Washington Wizards.

Without All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas, the Washington Wizards face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Already without All-Star Caron Butler (broken hand), the Wizards were dealt a major blow when Arenas - fourth in the NBA in scoring - suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee in Wednesday's loss to Charlotte.

Arenas, who averaged 28.4 points and 6.0 assists in 74 games, will be sidelined two to three months, meaning his season likely is over.

The Wizards are on the verge of clinching their third straight playoff berth but have dropped behind the first-place Miami Heat (40-34) in the Southeast Division.

The Cavaliers, who are 3 1/2 games behind Detroit (48-27) for first place in the Central Division and Eastern Conference, are coming off Thursday's 94-90 overtime loss to Miami. LeBron James collected 35 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Cleveland.