LOWLY WIZARDS END CAVS’ 13 GAME WINNING STREAK

The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers had a lengthy winning streak come to an end it was at the hands of one of the NBA’s best teams:  the Los Angeles Lakers ended their undefeated run at home on Christmas Day and to date are the only visiting team to win at the Quicken Loans Arena this season.    Their franchise record thirteen game winning streak didn’t end in such dramatic fashion against such a potent foe—it ended with a whimper on Thursday night in Washington against the lowly Wizards.   In a game that was obviously much more important to the host team, the 18-59 Wizards upset the Cavs 109-101. 

The victorious Wizards shot over 50% from the field and finished with six players in double digits, including two ‘double/doubles’.  Caron Butler led the team in scoring with 25 points, with Antawn Jamison adding 19.  Brendan Haywood (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Gilbert Arenas (12 points, 10 assists) produced the ‘double/doubles’.  Reserves Darius Songala and Nick Young contributed 17 and 10 points respectively.

Cleveland was led by 31 points from LeBron James, who also added six assists and nine rebounds.  Mo Williams scored 19, Delonte West 14 and Anderson Varejao 10.  After the game, LeBron commented that the Wizards always play the Cavs tough regardless of their win/loss record:

"Records never matter when you play the Wizards. It doesn't matter if you're in first place or who is not in first place. It's always going to be like that every time we play them."

Wizards’ interim coach Ed Tapscott said that the win was important for his team’s confidence as they build for the future:

"It was a very confidence-inspiring win for us. We hope that this'll give people a bit of a preview of what we will be next year. It's what we thought we would be this year."

Gilbert Arenas was more equivocal in his assessment of the victory:

"It's still a meaningless win toward the record. But for us, it's a real win. Because they're trying to be the best. He's trying to win an MVP award, so they had everything to lose, and we had everything to gain."

Cleveland will host San Antonio on Sunday before the Wizards come to town for a rematch on Wednesday.  The Cavs will then head to Philadelphia for a game against the Sixers on Friday night.  Washington hosts Miami on Saturday before they head to Cleveland on Wednesday.  They’ll then travel to Toronto to face the Raptors on Friday night.