The NBA playoffs is all about adjustments. After their performance in Game Two, the Wizards needed quite a few and head coach Eddie Jordan responded in kind for Game Three. Gilbert Arenas was added to the starting lineup, the team switched a majority of its defensive matchups, and the result was a resounding 108-72 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that likely had most fans at home on the couch switching over to Lost at 10 p.m. The 36-point victory set a club record.

Cleveland looked out of sorts on offense all night and played right into Jordan’s hands. By putting Caron Butler on LeBron James and DeShawn Stevenson on Delonte West, Cleveland tried to take advantage of the resulting Arenas v. Wally Szczerbiak match-up. And while they did get a few buckets early in the game, they focused entirely on that match-up and never really got into a good offensive flow. The Wizards meanwhile, stopped taking jumpers and attached the rim. They also turned up the defensive pressure, causing 15 Cleveland turnovers in the first half alone.

Stevenson woke up from the offensive coma he’d been in all series with 19 big points (including a little “I can’t feel my face” action). Butler added 17 and Brendan Haywood delivered another strong performance with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Five Wizards scored in double figures while only two managed that feat for the Cavs. James, who thoroughly dominated Games One and Two, finished with 22 points and 7 rebounds, but just 3 assists. His teammates shot a combined 19-54.

Photo by Scott Ableman