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The NBA season continues on Friday. The Cleveland Cavaliers will hit the road and face off against the Washington Wizards in an Eastern Conference battle! It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Cavaliers-Wizards prediction and pick.
Both of these teams have had similar starts to the season. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 12-10 and have managed to win their last three games. While the Washington Wizards are 14-8 and are coming off a very solid victory. This should be a close game between two competitive teams.
Here are the odds for the Cavaliers-Wizards Friday night NBA matchup, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Cavaliers-Wizards Odds
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Cleveland Cavaliers: +3.5 (-110)
Washington Wizards: -3.5 (-110)
Over: 208.5 (-110)
Under: 208.5 (-110)
Why The Cavaliers Could Cover The Spread
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the surprising success stories of this season. Cleveland managed to dominate the Miami Heat in a tough game and will look to bring that same energy into this game. They may only have a winning record by 2 games, but a big part of that is because of injuries. The return of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley has been huge for this Cavs team. Cleveland is on a little bit of a heater and will look to carry that momentum into a tough match. The Wizards can’t be overlooked, and if Cleveland wants to win this game then everyone is going to need to step up.
Leading the way for the Cavs is Jarrett Allen. Allen has taken tremendous strides this season and is averaging career highs across the board. In their win over Miami Allen had 19 points and 11 rebounds. He has been extremely efficient this season, shooting over 70% from the field. Allen’s presence on the court can’t be overstated. When he plays, this Cavs team looks completely different. Allen elevates the level of play of all of his teammates and will likely have a big impact on the outcome of this game.
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Another player who has been phenomenal for Cleveland is rookie Evan Mobley. Mobley has been given the opportunity to make an impact on this Cavs team and he has done just that. He missed four games due to injury, but since returning has been a walking double double. On the season he is averaging over 14 points and 8 rebounds a game. Some rookies go through a big adjustment period, but not Mobley. Mobley has made the most of his opportunities and has had a big positive impact for the Cavaliers. Expect him to continue playing very solid basketball.
Why The Wizards Could Cover The Spread
The Washington Wizards are also one of the league's biggest surprises this season. Washington has quickly become one of the top teams in the East, and have shown that they should not be taken lightly. The Wizards are coming of an 8 point victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Washington was down for a good portion of that game, but managed to string together some great plays and get the win. This Wizards team is scrappy, well rounded, and extremely tough to play against. Expect them to come out firing against an Eastern Conference rival.
Leading the way for the Wizards is Bradley Beal. While this team may have added some great pieces and become more well rounded, Beal is still the man in Washington. He put up 19 points and 9 assists in their win over Minnesota, but that was a relatively quiet night for Beal. On the season he is averaging nearly 23 points a game. He is in a bit of a slump, but he has shown time and time again that he is a top scorer in this league. Once Beal starts hitting shots consistently this Wizards team will be elevated to a whole other level.
A huge reason for Washington's success this season is because of their off season additions. The player that seems to be doing the most for the Wizards is Montrezl Harrell. Harrell only played 21 minutes against the Wolves but managed to put up 27 points and some extremely clutch buckets. Montrezl has been great for the Wizards. His hustle and drive is unparalleled. When Harrell steps on the floor the rest of the team gets a boost. Expect him to bring that same energy into this match up and to potentially have another big game.
Final Cavaliers-Wizards Prediction & Pick
This should be a great game. Both of these teams are highly competitive and are relatively healthy. With that said, the Cavaliers have just looked phenomenal since getting their injured players back. The Wizards are still a great team but they haven't been dominating opponents like Cleveland. The Cavs are underdogs heading into this match so that makes this pick even easier. The over is not a bad pick here either, both of these teams consistently put up big numbers and the over under does not really represent that. Pick Cleveland to win and cover or go with the over.
FINAL CAVALIERS-WIZARDS PICK: Cleveland Cavaliers +3.5 (-110) or Over 208.5 (-110)
FINAL CAVALIERS-WIZARDS SCORE PREDICTION: Cavaliers 113 – Wizards 109
