CLEVELAND, April 30 (UPI) -- Caron Butler's layup with three seconds left Wednesday capped a late surge that boosted Washington past Cleveland 88-87 in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
The win cut the Wizards' deficit in their best-of-seven quarterfinal series to 3-2.
Butler's basket capped a playoff career-high 32-point performance with nine rebounds and five assists.
Washington, which learned just before the game that guard Gilbert Arenas (knee) is done for the season, jumped to a 23-16 lead after the first 12 minutes and led after every period.
A three-point play by Delonte West gave the Cavaliers an 87-82 lead with 1:47 left, but they did not score again.
Washington's DeShawn Stevenson scored 17 points with five rebounds. Antonio Daniels, the only other Wizards' player in double figures, scored 12 points.
LeBron James led Cleveland with 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but also committed five turnovers.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 19 points with six rebounds, and West had 12 points and eight assists.
Game 6 in the series is Friday night in Washington.
