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James, Cavaliers look to take commanding lead vs. Wizards

Apr 28, 2007 - 2:28 PM Cleveland at Washington 5:30 pm EDT Eastern Conference First Round Game Three

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers look for a commanding 3-0 series lead when they face the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

Second-seeded Cleveland defeated seventh-seeded Washington, 109-102, on Wednesday to open a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first round matchup.

James had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Drew Gooden tied his playoff career-high with 24 points for the Cavaliers, who have won the first two games for just the second time in 20 all-time playoff series. They also won the first two from New Jersey in a 1992 first-round series.

Cleveland has won six straight games dating to the regular season and can pretty much ice this round with a win Saturday, although it never has held a 3-0 lead in any series.

In NBA history, 78 teams have held 3-0 leads and none have lost the series.

The series has not been a surprise as Washington is without All-Stars Gilbert Arenas (knee injury) and Caron Butler (broken hand). Since both players have been out, the Wizards are 2-10.

Forward Antawn Jamison remains Washington's lone bright spot with 59 points and 24 rebounds in the first two games.

The Wizards have lost six straight home games since March 28. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the first round agauinst Chicago in 2005, one of just 11 teams to do so.

Game Four is here Monday.