INQUIRER Sports

WASHINGTON -- Antawn Jamison connected on a baseline jump shot to lift the lowly Washington Wizards to an 80-77 victory Sunday over National Basketball Association powerhouses Cleveland.

Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, who had 30 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, was whistled for traveling on a drive for a potential game-tying layup with 2.3 seconds to play.

Wizards guard Caron Butler added a free throw with one second remaining for the final margin as the Wizards gained a measure of revenge after being knocked out of the playoffs by Cleveland in each of the past two seasons.

"I definitely knew he traveled, but I didn't think they were going to call it," Butler said.

"Two years ago, looking in hindsight, it was the same thing that happened in the playoffs ... we get that call, who knows what would have happened with everybody healthy?

"It was one of those situations where a great player made a move and good officiating called the call."

Jamison notched his 19th double-double of the season with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

"It ain't going to make me sleep easier at night or anything like that," Jamison said of hitting the game-winner. "The most important thing is the coaching staff trusted me to hit that shot and giving me the ball in that situation, and my teammates finding a way to get it done."

That's something the Wizards have failed to do very often this season, their 7-25 record the worst in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, came into the game looking for their 19th win in the last 21 games. They lead the Central division with a record of 27-6 - challenging Eastern Conference leaders Boston.

Butler had 19 points and seven rebounds while Dominic McGuire added 10 points and 10 boards for the Wizards, who snapped a two-game skid with their second straight home win.

"It is a happy locker room, and they deserve it," Wizards coach Ed Tapscott said.

James made two free throws with 1:51 remaining and added a layup to tie the game at 77-77 with a minute left to play.

But he said poor shooting prevented the Cavaliers from getting into a rhythm.

"It seems like we don't get going when we don't make shots," he said. "When we make shots, it allows us to flow better."

Even so, the Cavaliers managed to claw back from a double-digit deficit and pressure the Wizards at the end.

"It wasn't basketball, it was the mental part of basketball that we were not being successful with, especially after being up by 14 points with six minutes to go in the game," Jamison said.

"We waited till the last minute to get it going, but we made some plays, we made the correct plays, and we played smart."

Williams was assessed a technical foul and Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was ejected for running onto the court to argue after James was assessed a foul for charging over Wizards guard Mike James with 6:33 to play.

"I thought Mike James slid over," Brown said. "LeBron tried to sidestep him and I thought Mike James slid over."