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James, Cavaliers play host to streaking Wizards

Jan 23, 2008 - 2:18 PM Washington (22-17) at Cleveland (22-18) 7:00 pm EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- If the season ended right now, the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers would be looking up at the Washington Wizards in the playoff seedings.

The Cavaliers look to improve their standing in the East when they host the Wizards on Wednesday.

Sitting four games below .500 before December 25, Cleveland has regained its championship form over the last month, going 10-2 to push its way back into second place in the Central Division and fifth in the East.

LeBron James has led the team in scoring in each of the past 16 games and leads the NBA at 29.7 points per contest.

This will be the Cavaliers' first game home after a three-game road swing that saw them go 3-0 with victories over Memphis, San Antonio and Miami. James scored a season-high 51 points in the win at the Grizzlies.

Washington also has been streaking in the right direction lately, going 7-2 over its last nine games, including back-to-back wins over Eastern Conference-leading Boston on January 12 and 14.

The Wizards took down Western Conference-powerhouse Dallas on Monday, 102-84.

Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison combined for 48 points and 17 rebounds against the Mavericks, and the pair have carried the load all season while star guard Gilbert Arenas has been sidelined following knee surgery.

Washington took the first meeting of the season between the teams, 105-86, on December 5. Butler scored 27 points in the win while James sat out with an injured finger.