Lebron James led form the front for the Cavs with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and was well supported by Drew Wooden with 24 points and 14 rebounds.

For the Wizards, Antawn Jamison fired a game-high 31 and pulled down 10 boards, but it wasn't enough to get his team across the line after they fought back to get within three in the final minute of the game.

With James nursing a sore ankle from game one, Gooden relished his chance to shine, nailing 15 points in the opening five minutes to set the tone for the Cavs.

But in the closing stages it was James that provided the spark, hitting 13 of his 27 in the fourth term. The Wizards had reduced a 15-point deficit to just six when James shifted gears to lift the Cavs, nailing nine points in the final five minutes.

But the Wizards refused to yield, and when Jarvis Hayes drained a three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining, Washington was within three and on the verge of a major upset. But it wasn't to be, four free throws from Larry Hughes shut the door on a gallant Wizards outfit which now goes to game three in Washington desperate to get on the board in the best-of-seven series.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks restored order in the West, tying their playoff series against the Golden State Warriors at 1-1 with a 112-99 win.

Thirty points from Stephen Jackson wasn't enough to get the Warriors over the line as the Mavs pulled away in the final minutes to secure the win.

Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki were the best for the Mavs hitting 28 and 23 respectively.

The San Antonio Spurs got their playoffs campaign back on track with a 97-88 win against the Nuggets, taking the series to 1-1.

Carmelo Anthony was the game's high-scorer with 26 but aside from 20 from Iverson didn't have enough support from other Nuggets players while Tim Duncan was the Spurs' best with 22.