NBA Predictions: Will Wizards stay within number at Cavaliers? 2/22/18

Wizards vs. Cavaliers Pick

Are the Washington Wizards going to keep it competitive tonight when they play at the Cleveland Cavaliers? Tip-off is scheduled for 8PM ET.

According to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Cavaliers are listed as a 5.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 220.5 points. Cleveland opened as a 7-point fave before the line came down, while the total has remained where it's at now.

Bet Tonight's NBA Action

As of Thursday afternoon, 84 percent of public bets are siding with the Cavaliers. Online wager info also shows that 63 percent of bets are coming in on the over.

Washington and Cleveland have had a bit of a rivalry the last couple years, stemming from Wizards players such as the currently injured John Wall as well as Bradley Beal making comments to the media about how they were as good as the Cavs. It hasn't worked out very well with Cleveland winning two of three meetings last season and both games thus far this season. The series is tied 5-5 ATS over the last 10 meetings, while the over is 6-4.

The Wizards won their last two games before the All-Star break and have been solid without Wall in the lineup. Washington is 7-3 ATS over its last 10 games, while the over is also 7-3. The Cavaliers have won four in a row, the last three coming after several trades were made to retool the roster a couple weeks ago. Cleveland has covered the spread in all four wins and is 6-4 ATS over the last 10 games. The over has hit four straight times and is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games.

Even though the Wizards have played some good basketball as of late, I don't see them keeing up with LeBron James on the road here. He'll be well-rested with this game coming four days after he took MVP honors at an All-Star Game that was more competitive and played with more defensive intensity than we've seen in a long time. Cleveland had Washington's number the last two times this season with a different looking roster. Don't expect anything to change now that the Cavs are a better team.

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: CLEVELAND CAVALIERS -5.5

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