NBA: Washington 109, Cleveland 101

WASHINGTON, April 2 (UPI) -- Caron Butler scored 25 points Thursday and the Washington Wizards held on down the stretch to pull off an unlikely 109-101 victory over Cleveland.

The Cavaliers' franchise-record 13-game winning streak came to an end and their lead over the Los Angeles Lakers for the best mark in the NBA was reduced to two games.

Washington came into the game with just 17 victories for the season, second fewest in the league. The Wizards, however, shot 50 percent from the field, made 26-of-30 from the foul line and maintained their poise in the final minutes.

Butler made two of Washington's five free throws in the closing 22 seconds to protect the lead.

Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood each played just their second game of the season for Washington and they were two of six Wizards to score in double figures. Arenas had 11 points and 10 assists, while Hayward scored 12 points with 10 rebounds.

The Wizards had lost eight of their previous nine games.

LeBron James led Cleveland with 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists. James, however, turned the ball over six times.

Cleveland had not lost since a March 6 setback in Boston.