Just a week ago the Wizards hammered the Cavs by 14 in D.C., but Cleveland was playing without LeBron. Now we'll see if the Wizards can have the same luck against a Cavs team with LeBron in the starting lineup.
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SCHEDULE
Washington has the unenviable task of facing Cleveland in the middle game of a three game in four night stretch. The Wizards will start this clip with a road trip to Minnesota, then a trip to Cleveland before finishing up hosting Indiana the next night.
The Cavs will have had three straight days off before their game hosting the Wizards on Friday and will also be playing three games in four nights. However, Cleveland will get to host all three as they host Boston the night after Washington and then Memphis two nights later.
KEY MATCHUP
How can you not mention LeBron first and foremost? With LeBron sitting out on Sunday, the Wizards held a 26 point lead at the end of the third quarter in a rout of the Cavaliers. The Cavs struggling in the absence of James isn't much of a surprise, but getting blown out like they were is a cause for concern. Cleveland shot just 40 percent from the field without LeBron and only J.R. Smith shot better than 50 percent from the floor of the starting lineup.
Considering LeBron scored 34 in a win over the Wizards the last time he took the floor against Washington, he is certainly needed.
The All-Star Break may have kick started something in John Wall. Wall has been in good form of late and hit 72.7 percent of his shots against the Cavs and put up 21 points and 13 assists. In his last performance, Wall dominated the 76ers singlehandedly. He hit 13-of-26 shots from the field for 37 points and controlled the action the whole way. Wall is averaging almost 10 assists a game and can shoot and distribute as well as anyone in the Eastern Conference.
Key to any Wizards' postseason success this season is Bradley Beal and whether or not he can A- be a deadly three point shooter and B- stay healthy. Beal is currently on a minutes restriction to try to keep him as healthy as possible for when it really matters but he hasn't shot well from three point range recently. Beal is just 10-of-37 from behind the three point line since the break and needs to get back to his career average as an almost 40 percent three point shooter.
LIVE BETTING SCENARIO
The Wizards are 15-12 ATS away from home this NBA season, but have lost three of their last four. Washington's only win came against lowly Philadelphia on the road and that only came by 1.5 point. The under has been a solid bet in Wizards games with a 17-12 record through 29 games.
Cleveland is just 14-16 ATS at The Q this season and 25-31-3 overall against the number. The Cavaliers have been even worse since the break with a 2-5 ATS mark. In that same span, five of seven Cavs games have gone under the closing number.
The Wizards have beat the Cavaliers two of the three times they’ve met this season, including once with LeBron. Guard play is a major factor in this one. If Beal and Wall shoot well and don't turn the ball over, back the Wizards. Any other scenario and take LeBron and the Cavs on the readjusted pointspread.
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