Washington (42-36) at Cleveland (48-30)
When: Thursday, April 5th 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Cleveland -5.5/219
With the Eastern Conference playoff teams already set, all that is left to be determined is, who plays who, and where. Playoff positioning will be the main focus for the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers as they meet Thursday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland will get head coach Tyronn Lue back at the bench on Thursday after he missed the past nine games due to health issues that included chest pains and sleep deprivation. The Cavaliers were just fine on the court without their leader, as they posted an 8-1 record under interim coach Larry Drew during his absence. Cleveland has won four straight games and nine of their past 10 as they battle the streaking Philadelphia 76ers for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are now tied with Cleveland after last night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons. The Cavs are coming off a confidence-building 112-106 win the East-leading Toronto Raptors. The Wizards are battling the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 6 spot in the East, but have lost six of their past eight contests. All-Star point John Wall is back from a two-month absence after knee surgery and is trying to work himself into playoff shape. Washington has won the last two trips to Quicken Loans, including a 110-103 triumph on February 22nd.
Wall is showing some rust from his long abscence and had eight turnovers, while scoring just nine points (3-of-10 shooting) in Tuesday’s 120-104 loss to the Houston Rockets. Wall is 9-of-27 from the floor in his two games since returning, averaging 12 points and 12 assists. Wall isn’t the only one struggling with his shot lately, as small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is just 6-for-33 over the past three games. Shooting guard Bradley Beal is doing all he can to carry the scoring load, including his 27-point performance on 10-of-15 shooting against the Rockets. The Wizards will close out the season with home dates against Atlanta and Boston, and at Orlando in the season finale.
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Veteran point guard Jose Calderon came up with his best performance of the season, and it was against his former Toronto Raptor teammates. Calderon scored a season-high 19 points on Tuesday to raise his season average to 4.6. He was 7-of-11 from the field – including three 3-pointers. James recorded his fourth-straight double-double on Tuesday and managed to score 27 points on just 14 field goal attempts – his fewest since March 13th. Point guard George Hill (ankle) will likely miss his third straight game. Cleveland will turn right around and have a key matchup in Philadelphia tomorrow night.
These teams are going in opposite directions right now, but I can see Cleveland looking ahead to tomorrow night’s clash in Philly. Wall has struggled in two games, but will be better in this contest. The road team has covered the last six meetings. Make it seven.
Pick: Wizards +5.5
- Wizards are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Wizards are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Wizards are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
- Wizards are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Wizards are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.
- Wizards are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Wizards are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Wizards are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Wizards are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 road games.
- Wizards are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Wizards are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Cavaliers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win.
- Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Cavaliers are 0-8 ATS in their last 8 Thursday games.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Wizards last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Wizards last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Wizards last 7 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 4-1 in Wizards last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 9-3 in Wizards last 12 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Wizards last 9 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Wizards last 8 overall.
- Under is 7-3 in Wizards last 10 Thursday games.
- Over is 17-8-1 in Wizards last 26 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 Thursday games.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 home games.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Cavaliers last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 6-1 in Cavaliers last 7 vs. NBA Southeast.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Wizards are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
- Under is 24-9 in the last 33 meetings in Cleveland.
- Wizards are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
- Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
- Road team is 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
