According to the Associated Press, the Wizards believe that the Cavaliers, or more specifically LeBron James, have an unfair advantage the way the referees favor calls involving the young star.

Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said Saturday, what he thinks should have been a traveling call is part of a pattern of James getting protection from referees. He said that's the type of help Washington's own All-Star, Gilbert Arenas, isn't receiving in the first-round Eastern Conference series that Cleveland leads 2-1.

"I'm not going to get fined for saying what's obvious. Everybody sees it," Jordan said after practice ahead of Sunday's Game 4 against the Cavaliers.

"I want to give all the credit to Cleveland, [coach] Mike Brown and his staff and their players, but the truth is the truth. I want our players to understand that we did a lot of things to win the game, and because a travel wasn't called, you don't win the game."

James banked in a 4-footer with 5.7 seconds left after moving past Antonio Daniels and drawing contact from Michael Ruffin, the shot providing the final margin as Cleveland beat Washington 97-96 to reclaim home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.

According to the Associated Press, LeBron James now officially has his first NBA Playoff game winner.

James, who scored 41 points, drove around Antonio Daniels, collided with Michael Ruffin and banked in a 4-footer on the way down with 5.7 seconds left, giving the Cavaliers a 97-96 victory and more importantly a 2-1 advantage over the Washington Wizards.

Gilbert Arenas missed an open 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game.

"It went in and came out. You're going to miss more than you make in your career," Arenas said. "I missed that one, but I'm going to have more opportunities to make them."

Brendan Haywood has been attempting to establish himself as an enforcer in the Wizards' 1st round series versus Cleveland, but at least one member of the Cavaliers isn't too fond of the center.

"He's a baby," reserve guard Damon Jones said. "Period."
   
Then Jones repeated himself.
   
"He's a baby, period," he said. "Babies can't foul hard. He's a big kid. He's not out to hurt anybody. He's just doing what his coach tells him to do. I don't make a big deal out of that."

Gilbert Arenas is averaging 28 points per game so far in the playoffs, but has definitely picked his spots during the first two games, as he is defended primarily by former teammate Larry Hughes.

"We're trying to find ways to free Gil up with screening action that Larry has to deal with and not just ask Gil to go one-on-one where Larry can home in on Gil's strengths," Jordan explained.

"I think he may be more aggressive," Jordan said. "You know how he is at home. He's a little different at home. He attacks early and often. But he also knows that the best players help their teammates and that's what he's been doing."

According to the Washington Post, Wizards coach Eddie Jordan had to be pulled away from a heckling fan by two assistant coaches as the coaches walked off the court at the end of the first half last night in Cleveland.

Jordan wouldn't say exactly what the fan said, but when asked whether it was a racial slur that begins with the letter "N" Jordan said, "I heard something, and it sounded like that."

Moments after, the fan was escorted out of the area by security personnel, who later released a statement.

"We take these situations very seriously," the statement read. "Cavaliers and Wizards officials, on-site NBA security representatives, arena security personnel and additional fan witnesses were all involved in the process of trying to establish exactly what happened and what was said. No definitive determination could be made. The Cavaliers have the utmost respect for Coach Jordan and the Wizards."

The Wizards had a balanced scoring attack from Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, as they pulled out an 89-84 victory over the Cavaliers in Game 2.

"We stayed disciplined in our offensive possessions," Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. "Guys were a little bit jagged out there the first game, a little bit self-absorbed. Tonight we just pulled for each other."

Jared Jeffries will be a restricted free agent this summer and he knows that an impressive performance in the playoffs could give his value a big boost.

"You definitely want to come out and put on a good performance every night with the whole country watching LeBron," Jeffries said. "Maybe you can steal some of that limelight for yourself."

LeBron James finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, becoming the first player since Magic Johnson to post a triple-double in his first playoff game as the Cavaliers opened their campaign with a 97-86 win over the Washington Wizards.

"It's a great class to be in," James said.

"He's played on big stages his whole life," Cavs forward Drew Gooden said. "It's expected of him."

James is just the third player in history to get a triple-double in his playoff debut. Johnson (13 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists) did it for the Los Angeles Lakers on April 8, 1980, and Johnny McCarthy (13 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) had one for St. Louis on March 16, 1960.

"Nothing he does surprises me anymore," Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said. "He's just a terrific player. He's a tremendous luxury to have, knowing he can go out there any time and put up numbers like that."

Etan Thomas, who missed the final three games of the regular season with a lower back sprain, worked out yesterday with the Wizards and will be ready to play for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Saturday, according to Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan.

Larry Brown and the Knicks have their eye on free agent forward Jared Jeffries from the Washington Wizards, the New York Post is reporting.

"Larry's liked Jared for a long time," one person close to Brown said. "Larry likes guys who can play multiple positions."

The Post believes that Jeffries could be had for the $5 million mid-level exception.

"He doesn't score a lot, but he does a little of everything," one team executive said. "He's a great team player, he gets hustle points, he can bring the ball up."

The Knicks inquired about Jeffries during the season.

Brown has also identified a classic point guard and a defensive center as other needs. Speedy Claxton and Chucky Atkins, both of whom played for Brown, are free agents.

An NBA source said the Blazers are still willing to talk trade with shot-blocking center Theo Ratliff.