WASHINGTON - The Washington Wizards could easily have mailed in last night's game with the Cleveland Cavaliers, having lost a heartbreaking decision to the Minnesota Timberwolves the night before and with the three-time, defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers coming in tomorrow night.

But the Wizards stayed focused and dispatched the upstart Cavaliers, 107-100, one night after Cleveland had upset the Lakers.

"The best thing that you want to do when you lose a game is get right back at it," said forward Bryon Russell. "We came out, we played well and then we let them back in the game. We showed signs of what happened [Tuesday] night, but then we fought it off."

As they did the previous night in Minneapolis, the Wizards (2-3) took a big lead, only to see the opponent come back and make a run - the Cavaliers (2-3) trimmed a 17-point second-quarter lead to three at halftime.

But unlike what happened in the Twin Cities, the Wizards put the hammer down last night with a dazzling early fourth quarter in which they kicked a seven-point advantage up to 18 before Cleveland made a half-hearted run during garbage time.

"We were aggressive from the start," said guard Jerry Stackhouse. "I think everybody thought we needed to play with a sense of urgency. We felt like we played 3 1/2 quarters [Tuesday] and lost the basketball game. It got tricky with them getting back in the game, but with them pressing so much, we knew they would make a run.

"We showed good signs in the second half with us being able to come back and kick it up another notch, get the lead and coasting to the win."

Stackhouse led the way with a 17-point first quarter on the way to a season-high 35-point performance, with five rebounds mixed in.

"I had to come out and be aggressive," said Stackhouse, who had 25 points Tuesday but only two in the fourth quarter. "I think that puts a lot of pressure on the defense and opens up a lot of things for everybody.

"We go with the offense and run it, but I'm finding ways as I get more comfortable with the offense of [learning] how to pick my spots and when to go."

Stackhouse shot 17 free throws, hitting 15. He also tweaked an ankle and took a hard fall on his posterior.

"He's fearless. That's why I've always loved Jerry Stackhouse," said Washington coach Doug Collins, who coached Stackhouse when both were in Detroit. "He'll attack that rim. He'll put his body in there and get knocked down. He took a nasty fall, and I was really scared, but he popped right back up. He gives us a tone that we desperately need."

Said Stackhouse: "As long as you go to the free-throw line, it don't hurt as bad."

Kwame Brown had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Larry Hughes chipped in 13 points and five assists. Cleveland's Ricky Davis scored 27 points, and Jumaine Jones had 18 off the bench.

For a second straight night, the NBA's new end-of-quarter video replay was utilized in a Wizards game. In both cases, it came back to haunt Washington.

Hughes' jumper at the buzzer to end the third quarter was reviewed by lead official Danny Crawford and was waved off. In Minnesota, Timberwolves guard Troy Hudson's three-point attempt was allowed after review and served as the catalyst for his team's fourth-quarter comeback win.

Juan Dixon saw his second action of the season for the Wizards, scoring six points in four minutes in the fourth quarter. He hit two of three shots, but also turned the ball over twice.

Next for Wizards

Opponent:Los Angeles Lakers

Site:MCI Center, Washington

When:Tomorrow, 8 p.m.

TV/Radio:Comcast SportsNet, ESPN/WTEM (980 AM)