Due to the unreasonable 6 p.m. start time, I missed most of Game Five last night, but I did get home in time to see Caron Butler play the hero, connecting on a tough drive with 3.9 seconds left to give the Wizards the win and bring their first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers back to D.C. down 3-2. LeBron James attempted a contested lay-up at the buzzer that would have given the Cavs the series, but for the first time in what seems like forever, the Cavs missed a potential game-winner and the series that never ends rolls on. It will continue without Gilbert Arenas, however. Agent Zero shut it down for the remainder of the playoffs before the game, citing a pinched nerve in his knee.

In his absence, Butler returned to his early-season form, scoring 32 points, grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out five assists. He even did a little good-natured trash talking to James before the last play. “I just told him to make the season interesting,” Butler said. “Let’s take it back to D.C.” Game Six is Friday night at the Verizon Center.

His game winner wasn’t the most graceful move he’s ever done; replays showed Ben Wallace got a piece of the shot on the way up, but it got the job done. The Wizards were down five points with just over a minute and a half remaining, but scored the last six points of the game while getting stops on Cleveland’s last four possessions.

“We said we had to win here to win the series,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said after the game. “So we got this one. I think we are going to play great on Friday. I’m not predicting a win but I think we are going to play great on Friday and then we bring it back here.”