For two months, the Washington Wizards could not lose at home. They swept through December and January, winning 17 consecutive home games and setting up anxiety for Monday night’s showdown with the best team in the Eastern Conference and defending NBA champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
All expectations were met in a rollicking 140-135 Cleveland win in overtime.
Tied at 116-116 with 43.8 seconds to play, Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson made one free throw. On the next possession, Markieff Morris followed John Wall’s miss to vault the Wizards in front, 118-117 with 12.2 seconds to play. LeBron James zipped down the lane and missed an open layup.