Cavaliers Sweep Wizards In NBA Playoffs

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The NBA's Central Division has swept its way into the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 97-90 last night to become the third Central

Tuesday, May 1st 2007, 7:32 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The NBA's Central Division has swept its way into the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards 97-90 last night to become the third Central Division team to complete a four-game sweep in the opening-round.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Larry Hughes combined to score 18 of the Cavs' final 20 points. Ilgauskas finished with 20 points and 19 rebounds while Larry Hughes added 19 points.

LeBron James scored a team-high 31 points for the Cavaliers, who join the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals.

All three Central Division sweeps came against the Southeast Division.

San Antonio and Houston are within one victory of advancing to the Western Conference semifinals.

Tim Duncan scored 22 points and Manu Ginobili added 18 in the Spurs' 96-to-89 win at Denver. The Nuggets trailed by just a point until Robert Horry drained a three-pointer with 30 seconds left.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Allen Iverson added 22 and seven assists for the Nuggets. But Iverson shot just 9-for-25 in the loss.

The Spurs can close out the series at home tomorrow.

The Rockets have grabbed a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals by downing the visiting Utah Jazz 96-92. Tracy McGrady scored 26 points and had a career-high 16 assists despite leaving the game with a hip pointer in the first quarter. Yao Ming added 21 points, including the game-clinching free throws with eleven seconds left.

Carlos Boozer had 26 points for the Jazz, who host Game Six Thursday.