Tonight, the NBA has a huge slate of games, and one of the better matchups will be the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards. While these two teams are on different trajectories so for in this 2015-16 NBA season, the Wizards have still been competitive in some games against top Eastern Conference opponents, and even beat Cleveland by 12 in the first meeting of the year. For all of the info you need for the game including the live stream link, betting lines, a preview and prediction, please read on.
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Channel: Local - FSOH or CSNM
Where: Verison Center, Washington, D.C.
Live Stream: NBA League Pass (individual games can be purchased for $6.99)
Free Live Stream Option: Stream2U (no guarantee)
Betting Line: -7.5 CLE; 202.5 O/U
Both teams should have a full compliment of players this time around, as back on December 1, it was Washington beating a Kyrie Irving-less Cavs team 97-85. The Wizards dominated the post, and John Wall had a magnificent game, putting up 35 points with 10 assists.
Irving hasn't been great since he returned, but finally had a terrific game against the Toronto Raptors a couple of nights ago. He was able to drop 25 points, eight assists and six rebounds. But Kyle Lowry isn't exactly a great defender from the point guard position. Wall is a much more well-rounded athlete, and a much bigger one at that. One has to wonder how that individual matchup will play out, as it's likely the most important to the outcome of this game.
That said, Washington has just struggled this year, and especially lately. The Wizards have lost three of the last four, including two blowouts, which is disappointing because they were on a four-game win streak prior to that run. Things won't get easier tonight as LeBron James and company remember their loss to start December.
But there is one factor that plays to Washington's advantage still: Cleveland is just 8-8 on the road. The Cavs are an excellent team at home, going 15-1, but on the road, they aren't anything but average so far this season. I think the Wizards get back on track and upset the Cavs tonight.
Prediction: Wizards 101, Cavaliers 96
