As expected, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the injury riddled Washington Wizards 97-90 on Monday, completing the team's first ever sweep in franchise history.

Washington's loss, however, meant that every team representative from the Southeast Division has been swept in the opening round.  Chicago took care of Miami, and Detroit defeated Orlando.

LeBron James was close to a triple double, finishing with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, while Antawn Jamison again tried to carry his team, matching James' 31 points.

The Wizards were without two All-Stars, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, throughout the entire playoffs, making their chances of advancing a long shot at best.

The Cavaliers will now play the winner of the New Jersey-Toronto series, which the Nets lead 3-1 and have an opportunity to close out Tuesday in Toronto

In an attempt to inspire the crowd and their teammates, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler were introduced with the Washington Wizards' starting lineup. Arenas gingerly limped down the steps and across the court on his surgically repaired knee as the crowd went wild.

The undermanned Wizards rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit, but again couldn't finish the job in the final period. The Cleveland Cavaliers, mastering the art of doing just enough to win, held on for a 98-92 victory Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.

LeBron James had his best game of the series with 30 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Cavaliers, who are one game away from sweeping a playoff series for the first time in franchise history. Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 24 points and eight rebounds, but the most glaring statistic was the Wizards' 6-for-20 shooting in the fourth quarter.

On Wednesday night, Drew Gooden poured it on for the Cavaliers.

Usually a member of Cleveland's supporting cast, Gooden co-starred with LeBron James by scoring 19 of his 24 points in the first half in leading the Cavaliers to a 109-102 victory over the Wizards and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

LeBron James didn't practice. He did promise to play.

Resting his sprained left ankle for another day, James was kept out of Tuesday's workouts as the Cleveland Cavaliers prepared for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference series against the Washington Wizards.

"I'll be ready," James said.

During the 15-minute segment of practice open to the media, James stood on the baseline and watched as his teammates took jump shots. He did try a few free throws, but that was it.

Cavaliers forward LeBron James (left ankle sprain) is listed as probable for Wednesday?s Game 2 against Washington at The Q.

LeBron James says his sprained left ankle -- swollen, sore and stiff -- won't keep him out of the playoffs.

He spent most of Monday getting treatment after twisting his ankle Sunday during the third quarter of Cleveland's 97-82 win over Washington in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series.

"It's OK," James said. "It's what I expected, soreness and stiffness. If we had a game today [Monday] I'd definitely be able to play, so I'm headed in the right direction."

Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler had the cast removed from his broken right hand Monday and was told to avoid contact for a week to 10 days.

Even before Butler's cast was replaced by a splint, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan ruled out having the All-Star back for the team's first-round playoff series against Cleveland.

"He is not in our plans, right now -- not as a player," Jordan said after practice Monday. "If we get deeper in the playoffs, possibly, but not in the first round."

Asked whether there's any chance Butler could face the Cavaliers, Jordan said: "To me? No. Not to me."

While Cleveland, behind a combined 50 points by LeBron James and Larry Hughes, handily defeated Washington, speculation was injured Wizards forward Caron Butler could be planning a Willis Reed-esque return to the Washington lineup, possibly as early as Saturday's Game 3.

Butler has been out of the lineup since April 1 when he broke the second metacarpal in his right hand bending his index finger back against a backboard while challenging a shot by Milwaukee's Ruben Patterson and is still wearing a cast to protect the injured hand.

Butler's injury became more catostrophic when the Wizards lost point guard Gilbert Arenas a week later, leaving forward Antawn Jamison as Washington?s sole remaining All-Star-caliber player.

Flat on his back, LeBron James grimaced as he looked toward the arena rafters, where giant banners spelled out his team's playoff motto: "RISE UP!"

And he did.

Ignoring a sprained left ankle, James stayed in the game to score 23 points and Larry Hughes added 27 Sunday, lifting the Cavaliers over the Wizards 97-82 in the opener of this Eastern Conference series.

LeBron James will certainly be scoreboard watching in the season finale, doing all he can to help Cleveland win while pulling for New Jersey to keep alive Cleveland's shot at the No. 2 seed.

"We've got to take care of business on our home court," James said. "We'll be rooting for the Nets."

Larry Hughes scored 22 points and James had 18 to lead Cleveland to a 98-92 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, allowing the Cavaliers to play for second in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers could move up to No. 2 if they beat Milwaukee on Wednesday night and New Jersey beats Chicago, also on Wednesday.