"Josh Howard's stint with the Washington Wizards has been a sweet temptation, with him showing up like an ice cream truck driver playing a nifty little tune, providing treats during his brief visits and leaving those touched wanting more, waiting for his return. Howard doesn't want it to be this way, but his left knee has refused to cooperate.

He offered another reminder of the difference he can make on Sunday, when he came back from a 19-game hiatus to help the Wizards finally end a 26-game road-losing streak - dating from April 9 - with a 115-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although Howard hadn't played for more than a month, Coach Flip Saunders asked him at the team breakfast if he would be willing to start against the Cavaliers. Howard said he told Saunders, "It's up to you."

On the anniversary of the day the Wizards acquired Howard from Dallas, Saunders decided to give him his first start since Feb. 22 of last season, when Howard tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and set in motion his injury-plagued run with the team. Howard responded by scoring 16 points with five rebounds and two assists in just 25 minutes. He has played a total of 13 games for the Wizards (15-38) but they are 4-1 when he is in the starting lineup.

"You look at him playing, it's not a coincidence that our overall intensity, our overall intelligence improved with him on the floor," Saunders said. "He's got court savvy. He's been through it, he's been to the Finals, he's been through a lot of situations, played different positions, and you look there and watch him play and maybe you say, 'What if he had been healthy this whole year?' "

But Howard stopped concerning himself with maybes some time ago, focusing his energy on contributing to a team and a city that he remains committed to, even as he has dealt with a nagging injury and limited success in Washington.

Howard still talks about his desire to return to the Wizards as a free agent next season and to make his teammates better with his opportunities to play the final 29 games. "