Cavaliers Welcome Slumping Wizards
The Washington Wizards had a brief hot spell a few weeks ago but that’s faded. If you’ve been tracking the NBA news, you’ve probably noticed that they’ve lost five out of their last seven games.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are quite opposite as they’ve won five out of their last seven games. They’re fresh off a tough home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, though. Can they rebound and get a win on Friday?
Wizards have Playmakers, Little Cohesiveness
Those who bet online know that Washington leans on a number of playmakers that can be called up. Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma have all been crucial parts of this offense.
In terms of NBA betting, though, this team is hard to bet on because they rarely play as a cohesive unit. Each of the three aforementioned players averages over 20 points, but this squad doesn’t have a winning record.
One thing to note is that Kuzma isn’t even playing at 100 percent as he landed on the injury report earlier in the week.
While the main trio have shined, it’s the depth that has really been an issue. The Wizards traded away Rui Hachimura before the deadline, which was a big change.
It left the team with guys like Monte Morris, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija and Daniel Gafford. This lineup isn’t star-studded and is not winning many games. It does feel like the Wizards are close to packing it in for the season.
Cavaliers Rising Down the Stretch
The hype has since died down for the Cleveland Cavaliers as the season continues but they have a team that’s been playing well of late.
Donovan Mitchell is currently averaging 27.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists as the new face of the franchise. He’s partnered up with Darius Garland in the backcourt, a guy that’s putting up 21.9 points and 7.8 assists per game of his own.
When you dip into their frontcourt, they are just as stacked. The health of Jarrett Allen is a bit of a concern after he missed their last game, but he’s still putting up 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Fellow frontcourt member Evan Mobley is similarly putting up 8.9 boards and 1.4 blocks. If this team is healthy, they’re often a good choice versus the NBA betting odds.
Wizards vs Cavaliers Game Injuries
Wizards vs Cavaliers Head-to-Head
There have been two matchups between these teams with the Cavaliers beating Washington both times.
Wizards vs Cavaliers Game Information
- Game: Wizards (32-37) Cavaliers (44-28)
- Location: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH
- Day/Time: Friday, March 17th, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Wizards vs Cavaliers Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Wizards vs Cavaliers Betting Lines
Wizards vs Cavaliers Picks and Prediction
Simply put, Washington doesn’t stack up very well against Cleveland. The Cavs allow the fewest points in the NBA while the Wizards lack depth. They’ll be challenged here to keep up.
The new-look Cavaliers should be able to thrive on their home court and pull away with a victory. They’re favored in the sportsbook and as long as Jarrett Allen is good to go, there isn’t much to worry about. Take them with your NBA picks.
Cleveland is listed at -210 in our Vegas lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Cavaliers, there’s a chance to win $48. Washington is +175 with a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Cavaliers a 67.74% chance to win, with the Wizards at 36.36%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
Wizards vs Cavaliers Trends
Wizards vs Cavaliers Edge
Wizards vs Cavaliers Results
Wizards vs Cavaliers Game Summary
Cavaliers vs Wizards Previous Game (Feb 6, 2023)
The Washington Wizards return home to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in an all-Eastern Conference game on Monday.
The sportsbook expects a close game as the Wizards try to claw their way back to a .500 record. For the Cavaliers, it’s all about building a better road record than the 11-16 they currently have.
Cavaliers vs Wizards Game Summary
