CLEVELAND—Caron Butler saved Washington’s season.

Butler made a layup with 3.9 seconds left and the Wizards held their breath as LeBron James missed a potential series-ending layup at the horn, giving Washington an 88-87 victory on Wednesday night and adding at least one more game to this overheated NBA playoff series.

After Butler scored on a drive past James, the Cavs had one more chance but their superstar couldn’t get a banked runner to drop and the Wizards headed home for Game 6 on Friday night down 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

Butler scored 32 points and DeShawn Stevenson had 17 for the Wizards, who played without guard Gilbert Arenas.

James scored 34 points—24 in the second half—but was unable to make a final shot in traffic that would have sent the Wizards, who began talking trash weeks ago and haven’t stopped, quietly into the summer. The Cavaliers led 87-82 with 1:47 left, but Washington scored the final six points to end a five-game playoff losing streak in Cleveland.