After getting handled by the Cleveland Cavaliers Sunday afternoon, the Wizards did their best to step up their game. It would be hard to argue that last night’s showing was not a step up from Sunday’s dreary performance. The Wizards increased their point total by 20, but the end result was the same: another L in the books as Cleveland rode a strong performance by Drew Gooden (of all people!) for a 109-102 victory.

Gooden scored 19 points in the first half en route to a 24-13 night, making 10 of 13 from the field. His increased role was due to star LeBron James tentativeness in favoring his sprained ankle, though James ended the game with close to his season averages.

The Wizards again got a fantastic effort from Antawn Jamison (31 points and 10 boards), but his contribution was offset by combined 5-25 shooting from fellow starters Jarvis Hayes and DeShawn Stevenson. Darius Songaila put in some quality minutes, but at times was overpowered by his Lithuanian countryman, Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Washington got the score within three in the final 18 seconds, but former Wizard Larry Hughes iced his free throws to seal Cleveland’s victory.

The Wizards will return to the friendly confines of the Verizon Center this Saturday to try and get back into a series that has them all but written off. All-star Caron Butler’s been rumored to make his return following his recovery from a broken hand, but we’d do well to not count on any miracles here. Cleveland has to be feeling a ton of confidence now, but there’s some part of us, deep inside, that thinks the Wiz can steal one of the next two games and make things just a tad more respectful for their beleaguered, injury-ridden squad.