Wizards face Cavs on Prime Time
The Washington Wizards play the Clevend Cavaliers on prime time TV. The Wizards look to rebound after a loss to the Phoenix Suns. 11-3 Cavaliers (3-5) at Wizards (4-3)
TV Coverage: 7 pm ESPN
Last game for Cleveland: lost vs Indiana 124-107
- LeBron James- 33 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds
- Derrick Rose-19 points, 4 rebounds
- Jeff Green- 15 points, 3 rebounds
Last game for Washington: lost vs Phoenix 122-116
- Bradley Beal-40 points, 6 rebounds
- John Wall- 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists
- Mike Scott-12 points, 8 rebounds
Cavaliers preview- The Cavaliers have dropped four straight, and now are 4th in the Central Division. To make matters worse, besides not having Isaiah Thomas, who is out until January with a hip injury, Cleveland now has lost center Tristan Thompson for up to one month with a calf injury. Although, James leads the team averaging nearly 26 points, 7 rebounds and nearly 9 assists a game, the supporting cast has been depleted by not only injuries, but the departure of Kyrie Irving, as well. Kevin Love is averaging 18 points a game, and Rose is averaging 15 points a game, but after that it falls off dramatically. Cleveland’s defense is currently there biggest liability. In Wednesday night’s loss to Indiana, the Cavaliers gave up 30 points in every quarter, and the Pacers shot 54.5% from the field and a red-hot 61.%% from three-point range. As a team, the once feared Cavaliers are average at best, allowing nearly 112 points a game, which puts them 26th out of 30 teams, while offensively, they are averaging 105 points (17th), getting 43 rebounds (20th) a game and 21 assists (15th) a game.
Wizards preview-The Wizards blew a 22-point lead to the lowly Suns, including being outscored in the second half, 70-52. Washington had no answer for Suns forward T.J. Warren, who scored 28 points in the second half. Fortunately, the Wizards get back forward Markieff Morris, who returned from a sports hernia, but had to serve a one-game suspension for leaving the bench last Friday night against Golden State, but expect Morris to make his playing debut against Cleveland. Both Wall and Beal shot well from the field, and should provide most of the scoring for Washington, but the Wizards will need offensive support from Kelly Oubre Jr., and Marcin Gortat, who scored 17 points combined. Also, expect a game-time decision from Otto Porter Jr., to see if he can play. Porter missed Wednesday night’s game with a stomach virus.
