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James to test ankle, Cavaliers try to beat Wizards again

Apr 25, 2007 - 1:08 PM Washington at Cleveland 8:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference First Round Game Two

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Superstar LeBron James will try to not let a sore ankle keep him down.

James and the second-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers seek a second straight win in the Eastern Conference first round on Wednesday against the undermanned Washington Wizards.

James scored 23 points despite spraining his left ankle midway through the third quarter of Sunday's 97-82 win in the series opener. The three-time All-Star suffered the injury when he stepped on the foot of Washington center Eton Thomas.

The 22-year-old James returned to the game and watched as teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 11 of his 16 points in the final period to help lead the Cavaliers to victory. Larry Hughes was the top scorer with 27 points.

James was held out of practice on Tuesday by Cleveland coach Mike Brown, but vowed to be ready for Game Two.

"I'll be ready," James said. "I'm about 85 percent, not where I want to be, but I'll be ready."

The Cavaliers expected to be ahead in this series against the shorthanded Wizards. Washington continues to be without All-Stars Gilbert Arenas (knee injury) and Caron Butler (broken hand). Butler had his cast removed Monday but Wizards coach Eddie Jordan ruled out the forward until later in the postseason.

Antawn Jamison scored 28 points and hauled in a playoff career-high 14 rebounds but Jarvis Hayes (18 points) was the only other Washington player to score in double digits.

The Cavaliers have lost four straight Game Two scenarios, including both in last year's playoffs and are just 1-7 in the second game of their last eight playoff series.

The Wizards beat the Cavaliers in the second game of the 2006 Eastern Conference first round.