The five-game losing skid, coupledwith a key injury, derailed Washington’s momentum. Then it nearly sidetracked the Wizards’ postseason hopes.
Then forward Caron Butler returned.
So, too, did the playoff aspirations.
Washington, buoyed in part by Butler’s return, clinched a playoff spot with a 104-92 win over Cleveland Sunday night. Unlike last season, there was no confetti celebrating this feat; there were T-shirts and sighs of relief.
“We should have done this a long time ago,” said Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, who scored a game-high 35 points.
The Wizards (40-40) have not yet clinched the No. 5 seed; they could finish anywhere between fifth and eighth.
But if they stay at No. 5 – which they’ll do if they win their last two — they’ll play Cleveland in the first round; the Wizards went 3-1 vs. Cleveland this season. The Cavs had little to play for Sunday – and acted like it until its reserves mounted a fourth-quarter comeback.
Butler, wearing a small piece of tape on his right thumb, scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals in playing for the first time since spraining his right thumb – games ago. The Wizards went 0-5 during his absence. It was not a coincidence.
“He gives us that mental toughness,” Arenas said, “and that sweet outside shot.”
Butler showed flair, making a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer. And he showed toughness: After Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas fouled Gilbert Arenas hard, Butler walked over to Ilgauskas and bumped him in the chest.
“We might see them in the playoffs,” Butler said, “so statements need to be made.”
It was difficult for Butler to miss the games; Wizards coach Eddie Jordan described him as anxious and desperate to play. Jordan ran the first play of the game for Butler, giving him a chance to catch and dribble, testing the thumb.
“I knew what was at stake [Sunday],” Butler said. “This feels great. It’s unbelievable. It’s electric.”
The game also marked the return of former Wizards guard Larry Hughes, who signed with Cleveland last summer. Hughes, who scored 11 points, said he doesn’t regret his offseason decision.
“I never second-guessed it,” said Hughes, who shook hands with his old teammates and hugged Jordan before tipoff. “What made it easier is that we started off winning. As far as leaving friends and the organization which gave me a shot to show I could play, that’s different. But this was my best chance to put a lot of [wins] on the board.”
Playoff bound
» Center Etan Thomas did not play Sunday because of a lower back sprain. His status for Tuesday’s game against Milwaukee is uncertain.
» A 35-21 third quarter helped Washington take an 88-62 lead. But the Cavs scored the first 15 points of the fourth quarter and cut it to nine late in the game.
Cavs guard LeBron James (17 points) played only 30 minutes, and not at all in the fourth.
» Washington had not reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons since making it five straight times between 1983-88.
