CLEVELAND — LeBron James sat out Cleveland’s regular-season finale to rest for the playoffs and the Cavaliers rallied to beat the Washington Wizards, 113-110, in overtime on Wednesday night.
James spent the night dressed as if he was headed to a business meeting, not the postseason, and the Cavaliers only played their other starters in the first half.
Matthew Dellavedova scored 18 points and had 12 assists for Cleveland, making two free throws with 9.1 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Cavaliers a three-point lead.
Martell Webster scored 20 points and Rasual Butler had 17 points for the Wizards, who lost in double-overtime on Tuesday at Indiana.
Kevin Love scored 19 points before halftime and Kyrie Irving sat the final 29 minutes as Cleveland took advantage of the throwaway game to get extra rest before hosting the Boston Celtics in Game 1 on Sunday.
Washington coach Randy Wittman took the same approach, sitting star guard John Wall, Bradley Beal, Paul Pierce and Nene. Starting center Marcin Gortat only played 14 minutes. The Wizards will open at Toronto on Saturday.
Iman Shumpert added 18 points for the Cavaliers, who trailed by 15 points in the first quarter and 79-74 entering the fourth. But Shumpert and Dellavedova rallied the Cavaliers, combining for 17 in the fourth.
James didn’t mind sitting out the finale since it would give him another day to recharge his 30-year-old body before the Cavaliers begin their chase for the city’s first professional sports championship since 1964.
A two-time title winner with Miami, James has been encouraged by his team’s growth. After starting 19-20, the Cavaliers, changed by the additions of Shumpert, J.R. Smith and center Timofey Mozgov in trades, went 34-9 after Jan. 15. They won 20 of their final 21 home games.
“We’ve been playing the right way — win, lose or draw — we’ve played the right way,” James said. “We’ve stuck to our system and I think it’s built some great habits for us going into the postseason.”
The Wizards, too, are confident. Wall and Beal made their postseason debuts in 2014, and Wittman believes they’ll be better prepared this time.
“That was their first experience and it should help them a lot in these playoffs,” Wittman said. “Also having Paul [Pierce] this time will be a plus for everyone.”
Guard Otto Porter sprained his ankle in the third quarter and did not return.
The Wizards finished with their highest-win total since 1978-79.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.