Cavs loss hots up race in Eastern Conference

JOHN Wall tallied 37 points as the Washington Wizards defeated LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers 127-115, tightening the race atop the Eastern Conference standings on Saturday night.

The Wizards now trail the Boston Celtics by two games and the defending NBA champion Cavaliers by two and a half for first place. Also, Cleveland’s lead over Boston is now just a half-game.

Wall delivered 18 of his 37 points in the first quarter shooting eight-ofeight from the field.

“You don’t want to go into the playoffs knowing that you have to face those guys and you never won against them in the regular season,” Wall said.

“To come here and win in a tough place, it’s definitely a boost.”

Bradley Beal added 27 points for the Washington, who are now 19-7 when a ll five starters score in double figures.

Superstar James shook off the eye injury he suffered on Friday night to score 24 points, grab 11 rebounds, and hand out eight assists.

“I haven’t been in too much light the last 24 hours, the Cavaliers small forward said. “I mean all day since I got home last night and today I stayed away from it because it was bothering me a little bit too much,” said James, who suffered a corneal abrasion to his right eye. “But I kind of warmed up to it, so that’s a good sign.”

James started Saturday’s contest wearing plastic goggles but took them off with about three minutes left in the first quarter.

James needed seven assists to pass Maurice Cheeks (7,392) for 12th place in NBA history, which he reached with his first assist in the fourth quarter.