Cavaliers vs. Wizards Prediction
Can the Washington Wizards get back on track when they play host to the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at 7PM ET?
503 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 504 Washington Wizards
Friday, February 8, 2019
7PM ET – Capital One Arena
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Wizards are the clear favorite tonight, as they are getting odds of -10 points against the Cavs. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 221.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 61 percent going on Cleveland on the road. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Cavs covering
Cleveland is coming off a 103-96 loss at home to Boston on Tuesday, but the Cavs have covered the spread in four of their last five games. Cleveland is 11-43 overall, 5-22 on the road, 24-29-1 against the spread and 27-26-1 with the under.
The Cavaliers are one of the league’s worst offensive teams, averaging just 102.4 points per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field. Defensively, Cleveland is giving up 113.1 points per game while opponents shoot a league-best 49.2 percent against them. The team could have Kevin Love finally return tonight from his foot injury. He is listed as questionable to play tonight. Love averaged 19 points and 13.5 rebounds in his four games of action this season. Jordan Clarkson is leading Cleveland this season with 16.6 points per game.
Wizards struggling
The Washington Wizards are coming off a 148-129 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday for their third straight loss. The Wizards have failed to cover in five of their last six games. Washington comes into this game at 22-32 overall, 15-11 at home, 23-31 against the spread and 32-22 with the over.
Washington has been a mess on defense this season, which really showed in the loss to the Bucks. The Wizards are giving up 116.6 points per game while allowing opponents to shoot 47.7 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from the arc. Offensively, Washington puts up 113.4 points per game. The team made a trade this week, sending Otto Porter Jr. to the Bulls for Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker. Bradley Beal is leading the team with 24.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest while Trevor Ariza is adding 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
NBA Betting Trends
Cleveland
The Cavaliers have covered the spread in four straight conference games and six of their last seven on two days of rest.
Washington
The Wizards are 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 Friday games and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 against Central Division opponents.
Prediction:
The Wizards have not been looking good as of late and just lost at Cleveland 116-113 on Jan. 29. Washington may not have its new pieces from the trade yet, either, so they could be short-handed tonight. The Cavs are certainly not a talented team, but they have been playing competitively lately. If they are able to add Love back, it only should make them more competitive. I think the spread is just too big tonight, as the Wizards aren’t a team I like beating anyone by double figures at the moment.
NBA Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers +10