Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview

For the second time within a week, the Wizards and Cavs are set to do battle. Washington is one of the hottest teams in the league right now and was able to secure a win in the first get-together, despite Russell Westbrook not bringing his best stuff. He had 11 points and 11 assists with limited rebounds in that last showdown.

The Wizards took a 146-143 OT loss to San Antonio earlier in the week but were able to bounce back by completing a season sweep of the Lakers. That is something that was seen as impossible when the year began, so all the power to them. The first game against LA was a wild one, while they led almost wire to wire this time through. This is a team that is determined to keep things going.

Cleveland is likely to be very shorthanded once again. They erased a 23-point fourth-quarter deficit against Orlando inside the final minute but could not seal the deal. Cole Anthony was impossible to stop over the several final possessions, guiding his team to an impressive win and handing Cleveland an L. The Cavs used a lineup of Garland-Okoro-Osman-Love-Allen for the entirety of their 43-point final frame in the loss. And it paid dividends.

Odds: The spread for Friday night favors the Wizards, WAS -6.5

Wizards Seeking to Move to Just Five Games Under .500

28-34 is where the Wizards currently stand. Given everything they have been through this year, that is extremely impressive. Westbrook and Bradley Beal have been giving their all every game, and the team just rarely loses when they both play these days. Injuries have played a role without a doubt this year in the record, but watching these two stars win together has been a blast.

Russ has been on three teams the past three years, pairing with another star in the backcourt each time. The pairing with Beal might be even more lethal than he and Harden were during the 2019-20 season. To those still sleeping on the Wizards, you might want to lift your head off the pillow.

DC looks to make it 11 wins in 12 games by taking down Cleveland.

Cavs Looking to Snap Funk

The Cavs have now dropped five games in a row since beating Charlotte. If they are unable to win this one, they’ll see Miami tomorrow, too. The wins have been hard to come by for Cleveland, who has been without Collin Sexton since last weekend. On the bright side, Darius Garland is continuing to put up big statistical performances and looks like a real star.

The team has a clear future star in Jarrett Allen too, who should be paid handsomely this summer. Isaac Okoro is starting to figure out how to score at the NBA level, too.

Unfortunately, the recent Kevin Love debacle has shed a negative light on him and the organization. Kevin Porter Jr., who they traded in late January, scored 50 last night. It might be the biggest regret they ever have. Perhaps, they should have kept him?

Anyway, let’s see if they can slow Russ and Beal and get the W.