Cavaliers Aim for 12th Straight Win Over Wizards in Eastern Conference Matchup

Can Cleveland Continue Its Dominance Over Washington?

The Cleveland Cavaliers (35-15), fresh off a buzzer-beating win over the Detroit Pistons, will look to extend their dominance over the Washington Wizards (10-40) when they travel to the nation’s capital on Friday night.

Cleveland has won 12 straight matchups against Washington, dating back to February 2022. However, the Wizards are playing their best basketball of the season, entering Friday’s game on a three-game win streak following a 16-game losing streak in January.

With Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Donovan Mitchell leading the way, the Cavaliers aim to further solidify their spot atop the Eastern Conference standings. Meanwhile, Washington hopes its recent surge, along with newly acquired Khris Middleton, can keep the momentum going.

Cavaliers: On Fire and Eyeing Franchise History

Cleveland’s Recent Performance

• Current Streak: Won 5 of last 6 games
• Record: 35-15 (1st in Eastern Conference)
• Last Game: Defeated Detroit Pistons 118-115 (Wednesday)

The Cavaliers have been rolling, winning five of their last six games and 16 of their past 18. Wednesday’s thrilling victory came via a Darius Garland buzzer-beater, proving just how clutch Cleveland has been down the stretch.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson praised Garland after his game-winning shot:

Key Players to Watch

• Darius Garland (G, 25 years old): Averaging 21.8 PPG, 6.8 APG and coming off a 25-point game.
• Evan Mobley (F, 22 years old): Averaging a career-high 18.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, had 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in Wednesday’s win.
• Donovan Mitchell (G, 27 years old): Team-leading 23.8 PPG, expected to return Friday after missing the last game with a shoulder contusion.

Cleveland is looking to match its second-best win total in franchise history, making every game count as it competes for the No. 1 seed in the East.

Wizards: Finding Momentum After a Brutal Stretch

Washington’s Recent Performance

• Current Streak: Won 3 straight
• Record: 10-40 (14th in Eastern Conference)
• Last Game: Defeated Brooklyn Nets 119-102 (Wednesday)

The Wizards have been one of the NBA’s worst teams all season, but February has been kind. They’ve won three straight games, all on the road, after going winless in January.

On Wednesday, Washington racked up a season-high 40 assists in a win over Brooklyn and held the Nets to just 12 third-quarter points.

Key Players to Watch

• Bilal Coulibaly (F, 19 years old): Coming off his first career triple-double (11 PTS, 11 AST, 10 REB).
• Jordan Poole (G, 24 years old): Team’s leading scorer (20.3 PPG), must step up after Kyle Kuzma’s departure.
• Khris Middleton (F, 33 years old): Acquired from Milwaukee, brings veteran leadership and scoring (12.6 PPG this season, but averaging 20+ PPG in recent games).

With Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Bub Carrington representing Washington at NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars Challenge, the Wizards finally have young talent to build around.

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Key Storylines and Matchup Breakdown

Cleveland’s Offense vs. Washington’s Defense

✅ The Cavaliers rank 7th in the NBA in scoring (116.3 PPG), while Washington ranks 29th in defensive rating.
✅ If Mitchell returns, Cleveland’s three-headed scoring attack (Garland, Mobley, Mitchell) could overwhelm the Wizards’ defense.

Washington’s Hot Streak vs. Cleveland’s Dominance

✅ The Wizards are 3-0 in February, averaging 121.7 PPG in that stretch.
✅ However, Cleveland has won 11 straight against Washington, holding them under 110 points in 9 of those games.

Can Khris Middleton Make an Immediate Impact?

✅ Middleton was acquired in exchange for Kyle Kuzma in a trade with Milwaukee.
✅ If Middleton plays Friday, he could provide much-needed shooting and playmaking alongside Jordan Poole.

Game Details

📅 Date: Friday, February 9, 2024
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM ET
📍 Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
📺 TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Can the Cavaliers continue their dominance, or will Washington’s new-look roster pull off an upset?