The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Washington to take on the Wizards on Friday night. The game will be played at Capital One Arena, with Cleveland looking to extend its dominance over Washington. The Cavaliers have won 11 straight against the Wizards, dating back to February 2022.
Cleveland enters the game with a 41-10 record and has won five of its last six. Darius Garland hit a deep three at the buzzer in their last win over Detroit. Washington, at 9-41, has won three straight after a 16-game losing streak.
Wizards Preview – Can Washington Keep the Streak Alive?
The Wizards have won three in a row, all on the road, after struggling through January. Their last game was a 119-102 win over Brooklyn, where they had a season-high 40 assists. They held the Nets to just 12 points in the third quarter.
Bilal Coulibaly has stepped up for Washington, recording his first career triple-double against the Nets. He finished with 11 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. The Wizards also acquired Khris Middleton in a trade for Kyle Kuzma, adding a veteran presence to the team.
Washington’s defense has struggled, ranking last in points allowed per game. They will need to slow down Cleveland’s offense, which is second in field goal percentage and three-point shooting. Jordan Poole leads the team in scoring with 20.3 points per game.
Cavaliers Preview – Can Cleveland Stay Hot?
The Cavaliers are rolling, winning five of their last six. They escaped with a win over Detroit thanks to Garland’s last-second shot. He finished with 25 points and is averaging 21.8 points and 6.8 assists per game.
Evan Mobley added 30 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in the win. He has improved his scoring this season, averaging a career-best 18.3 points per game. Donovan Mitchell, the team’s top scorer at 23.8 points per game, is probable with a shoulder injury.
Cleveland ranks second in the league in scoring at 122.2 points per game. Their three-point shooting is among the best in the league at 39.4%. Defensively, they allow just 47.5% shooting from the field, which ranks 25th.
Betting Prediction
The Cavaliers are big favorites, sitting at -17.5 on the spread. They have dominated Washington in recent matchups, covering in seven of the last ten. The Wizards have shown improvement in February, but they have struggled to keep games close against strong teams.
The total is set at 236.5, with Cleveland ranking high in offensive efficiency. However, the under has hit in seven of the last ten meetings between these teams. Cleveland should win comfortably, but Washington’s recent form makes the large spread a risk.
Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -17.5
When push comes to shove one of these teams is the best in the Eastern Conference, while the other is the worst in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland should win this game without any problems. It is rare to see a spread this large in the National Basketball Association, but this one is for a reason. Take the Cavaliers in a blowout.
