Cleveland-cavaliers vs Washington-wizards Picks and Predictions December 13th 2024

Cleveland-Cavaliers vs Washington-Wizards December 13th 2024

In an Eastern Conference matchup, the Washington Wizards (3-19) travel to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 ET.

The Cavaliers are currently favored by 17 points and have a moneyline of -2087. The over/under line for the game is set at 232.5 points.

Wizards vs. Cavaliers Key Information

The Wizards’ season continued to spiral with a 140-112 loss to the Grizzlies on Sunday, dropping their record to 3-19. Washington, who entered as +9.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread at home. The combined score of 252 points exceeded the O/U line of 235.5 by 16.5 points.

Memphis took control with a 16-0 run, turning a 77-66 deficit into an 82-77 lead. The Wizards couldn’t recover, as they were outscored 34-26 in the 1st quarter, 38-29 in the 2nd, and 39-27 in the 3rd. Washington edged Memphis 30-29 in the 4th, but the game was already out of reach.

In their 140-112 loss to the Grizzlies, the Wizards struggled offensively, shooting just 43% from the field and hitting only 6 threes at an 18.8% clip. Jonas Valanciunas and Marvin Bagley each scored 20 points, with Valanciunas adding 14 rebounds.

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Bilal Coulibaly contributed 17 points, 12 of which came in the 2nd quarter. Bagley also added 8 points in the 4th, while Justin Champagnie scored 7 of his 14 points in the final period.

Defensively, the Wizards struggled against the Grizzlies, giving up 140 points on 52% shooting. Washington allowed 34 points in the 1st quarter and 38 in the 2nd, followed by a 39-point 3rd quarter. They gave up 29 points in the 4th.

The Wizards also allowed 17 three-pointers on 39% shooting from deep. Memphis shot 29 free throws, making 23. Washington finished with 32 defensive rebounds, allowing 12 offensive boards, while recording 10 steals and 5 blocks.

The Cavaliers fell to 21-4 on the season after a 122-113 loss to the Heat on Sunday. Cleveland, favored by 2.5 points, failed to cover the spread, and the game’s total of 235 points went over the 222.5-point line.

Cleveland went on a 10-0 run early, but Miami responded with a 38-point 2nd quarter. The Cavs entered the 4th quarter down 90-80 and couldn’t complete the comeback, despite outscoring Miami 33-32 in the final period.

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 23 points and 5 assists in their loss to the Heat, scoring 9 points in the 4th quarter. Georges Niang added 15 points, hitting 3 threes at a 75% clip, while Ty Jerome contributed 14 points, with 12 coming in the 2nd quarter.

The Cavs shot 47.7% from the field and connected on 14 threes, shooting 42.4% from beyond the arc. Caris LeVert chipped in 13 points, and Donovan Mitchell finished with 12, scoring 7 in the 3rd quarter.

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The Cavaliers’ defense started strong, giving up just 21 points in the 1st quarter, but they struggled in the 2nd, allowing 38 points. Cleveland also gave up 31 points in the 3rd and 32 in the 4th, leading to a 122-113 loss to the Heat.

Overall, the Cavaliers allowed Miami to shoot 47% from the field and 43% from three-point range, with the Heat making 16 threes. Cleveland also sent Miami to the line 26 times, where they hit 24 free throws. The Cavaliers finished with 5 steals and 1 block.

The Cavaliers is our pick to not only win with a projected score of 128-93. But we also favor them to cover the spread. Our bet is on the Cavaliers at -17.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 232.5 and our model has the Wizards and Cavaliers finishing with a combined 221 points. Our pick is to take the under.

Cavaliers Aim to Rebound Against Struggling Wizards

The Cleveland Cavaliers return to action Friday night with hopes of bouncing back from a recent loss when they host the Washington Wizards, the team with the NBA’s worst record. After a four-day break following their elimination from the NBA Cup group stage, the Cavaliers will look to regain momentum against a Wizards squad that has struggled all season.

Cavaliers’ Opportunity to Regroup

Cleveland holds the best record in the NBA at 21-4, but two of those losses came in NBA Cup group play, including a 122-113 defeat to Miami on Sunday. The Cavaliers missed out on a trip to the Cup quarterfinals, giving them an extended break that guard Darius Garland believes could prove beneficial.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board,” Garland said. “Get ourselves back together, get our bodies back together and just get ready for Friday.”

The added time off may have allowed the Cavaliers to refocus, but their immediate schedule presents a favorable opportunity. They’ll face the 3-19 Wizards at home before traveling to Brooklyn on Monday to take on the 10-14 Nets.

Dominance Over Washington

Cleveland has already dominated Washington twice this season. The Cavaliers earned a 135-116 road win during the first week of the season and followed it up with an even more lopsided 118-87 victory at home during NBA Cup group play.

Cleveland’s 3-point shooting has been a key factor in those wins. The Cavaliers outscored the Wizards 102-57 from beyond the arc in the two matchups, with Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, and Garland combining for 69 of those points. The Cavaliers lead the league in 3-point shooting percentage (40.4%), while the Wizards rank among the worst teams defensively against the 3-pointer, allowing opponents to shoot 37.4%.

Wizards’ Challenges Continue

The Wizards have endured a tumultuous season, highlighted by a 16-game losing streak. They managed to snap the skid with a surprising 122-113 victory over the Denver Nuggets last Saturday but fell back into old habits in a 140-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies the following day.

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Coach Brian Keefe has emphasized the need for long-term development despite the team’s struggles. Drawing on his experience with the rebuilding 2008-09 Oklahoma City Thunder, Keefe remains focused on building habits for future success.

“(The Wizards) are working and developing a work rate and effort and habit-building that’s setting us up for long-term success,” Keefe said.

Washington faces a tough stretch ahead, with their other add-on game against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Key Matchup: 3-Point Battle

Cleveland’s proficiency from deep will be a significant advantage against Washington’s porous perimeter defense. In the first two meetings, the Cavaliers consistently exploited the Wizards from beyond the arc, a trend they’ll look to continue Friday.

• Cleveland’s Sharpshooters: Mitchell, Merrill, and Garland have been lights-out against Washington this season.
• Wizards’ Defensive Struggles: Containing Cleveland’s perimeter attack will be critical for Washington to stay competitive.

What to Watch

• Cavaliers’ Focus: Will Cleveland come out sharp after the extended break, or will rust be a factor?
• Wizards’ Effort: Can Washington build on their rare win over Denver, or will their defensive issues resurface?
• Donovan Mitchell’s Impact: Mitchell has been instrumental in Cleveland’s success against Washington and will likely lead the charge again.

Outlook

The Cavaliers are heavy favorites, given their dominance over Washington in previous meetings and the Wizards’ ongoing struggles. For Cleveland, this game presents an opportunity to reset and continue their winning ways as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead. For the Wizards, it’s another chance to build foundational habits in what has been a season of growing pains.