NBA playoff capsules

WASHINGTON — Another milestone for LeBron James: his first winning shot in the playoffs.

James drove around Antonio Daniels, collided with Michael Ruffin and banked in a short shot on his way down with 5.7 seconds to play, giving the Cleveland Cavaliers a 97-96 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night and a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.

James scored 41 points on 16-for-28 shooting and had five rebounds and three assists. He out-dueled Gilbert Arenas, who scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter for the Wizards. Arenas, however, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won the game.

But the Cavaliers were all about James, who played all but 23 seconds. His teammates were a combined 19-for-57 from the field. The Wizards mixed up their defenses, sometimes showing double-teams and threats of double-teams, especially in the second half, but James couldn’t be stopped at the end when everyone in the building knew he would take the shots. He made Cleveland’s last two baskets, both tough shots in the paint.

Kings 94, Spurs 93

SACRAMENTO — Kevin Martin tossed in a fastbreak layup over Tim Duncan as time expired to lift the Kings to the win in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

The Spurs won the first two games, including a Game 2 overtime thriller in which Brent Barry’s game-tying regulation 3-pointer bounced twice on the rim and backboard before falling through. Luck was on the Kings’ side this time — and Martin delivered the biggest shot of his short NBA career.

Michael Finley hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 41.1 seconds left for San Antonio, and Ron Artest turned the ball over with 27 seconds left in his first game back from a one-game suspension. The Spurs ran down the clock until the final seconds — but Manu Ginobili capped a terrible game by losing the ball on a drive. Mike Bibby, who had 25 points, rushed the ball to midcourt and fed Martin, who drove the lane and lofted a shot over Duncan, who blocked six shots. The ball bounced delicately on the rim before falling through as the buzzer sounded.

Lakers 99, Suns 92

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant had plenty of help in the Los Angeles Lakers’ latest win over the Phoenix Suns.

Bryant scored just 17 points but Lamar Odom had 15 points and 17 rebounds, Luke Walton added 17 points and 10 boards, and the Lakers beat Phoenix. The victory gave the upstart Lakers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.

Smush Parker had 18 points and Kwame Brown added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Lakers, who outrebounded the Suns 53-34. Bryant had seven assists and five rebounds.

Shawn Marion had 20 points for Phoenix, Tim Thomas had 18, and Steve Nash had 17 points and 11 assists.

Bryant went 6-for-18 and Los Angeles shot just 42 percent from the floor. Nash was 7-of-16 and the Suns shot 44 percent.

The game was close all the way, with the Lakers leading most of the time and the entire fourth quarter. The Suns closed within 92-90 with 3:27 remaining, but then Walton and Parker scored to give Los Angeles a 96-90 lead with 2:20 left.<