The Cleveland Cavaliers appeared to be on their way to ending a four-game losing streak, but Jordan Crawford fueled a second-half surge by the Washington Wizards to instead hand the Cavs their fifth consecutive loss, 101-98.
Washington ended their six-game losing streak as Crawford scored 31 points with five three-pointers, including 10 points during a 14-5 run in the fourth quarter that pushed Washington out to a ten-point lead with less than four minutes to play. The run didn't knock out the Cavs though as rookie point guard Kyrie Irving tried to will his team back in the win column.
Irving scored eight of his 20 points late in the game to help bring Cleveland back within one possession of the lead. Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker both missed three-point attempts to tie the game in the final 35 seconds as the Cavs eventually ran out of time.
Jamison finished the game with 29 points and nine rebounds. Washington point guard John Wall finished with 24 points, five assists and five rebounds to go along with Crawford's big night.
Cleveland returns home to try to end their losing when they host the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
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