Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview Dec 30

Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers Predictions

WagerTalk NBA handicapper Andy Lang offers his Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers betting preview for Thursday, December 30. At the time of posting, the Wizards have climbed to a 3.5-point home favorite over the visiting Cavaliers, with the total sitting at 210.5 points.

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Thurs, Dec 30	NBA Betting Notes
Point Spread:	Washington Wizards -3.5 vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Total:	210.5 Points
Game Time:	7:10pm ET / 4:10pm PT
Arena:	Capital One Arena
TV:	NBC Sports Washington

Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers Analysis

It just feels like this is a cursed season for Cleveland after getting the news about Ricky Rubio’s torn ACL. Sexton went out early in the year and they weathered the storm behind great efforts from Garland and Rubio, and now Garland is on the COVID list and Rubio is out for the year.

They’ll try and scrape together a win today, and they have a shot as they are playing a Wizards team who is playing awful basketball right now. Despite their current form, the Wizards are -3.5 favorites and the total is 210.5 points.

For researching purposes, the incredible ATS record that Cleveland has built up over the season (26-8) is basically obsolete as Cleveland is down to Kevin Pangos and Isaac Okoro at the guard positions. Last game Pangos played he had 0 points in 9 minutes which clearly does not bode well short term for Cleveland.

Okoro and Mobley are back for Cleveland, and the Cavs are starting to get more players back off the COVID list along with Kevin Love still playing good minutes, but let’s be honest…this Cavs team lost by 4 to a bad New Orleans Pelicans team who were playing without Brandon Ingram, and that was with Rubio playing 37 minutes and going off for 27-13-9. Take that out of the lineup and put in Pangos, and it’s a massive step down and a big problem for Cleveland tonight.

The Wizards are coming off of a loss to the Heat and a loss to the 76ers, but had previously beaten the Knicks on the 23rd and the Jazz on the 18th, but the whole story in this game, IMHO, is the status of Bradley Beal and KCP. Both are questionable tonight as they are on the COVID list, but can be eligible to play if they clear protocols.

If Beal plays, I believe it gives the Wizards such a big advantage at the guard position I see them handling the Cavaliers ATS tonight. If both Beal and KCP play, I see it being an even bigger victory for Washington. If Beal is out it leaves too big of a question mark for this game and I will stay away.

OFFICIAL PLAY: Wizards -3.5, -4, -4.5 if Bradley Beal plays.
*If Bradley Beal is out, the game is a pass for me

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Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview from GoldSheet

Cleveland’s taken a couple of dings in the personnel department in the last few days, as leading scorer G Darius Garland (20 ppg) went into Covid protocols just before the Pels’ game and PG Ricky Rubio is through for the year after suffering an ACL tear on Tuesday night against New Orleans.

However, there is some good news, as Cav PF Evan Mobley and F Isaac Okoro both returned from quarantine against New Orleans and Jarrett Allen could be back soon (but is doubtful for this contest). Washington lineup is in flux as well, as both starting G and leading scorer Bradley Beal and F Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have been upgraded to questionable and could be eligible with the modified quarantine period.

On the downside for the Wizards was the placement of C Montrezl Harrell into the protocol on Tuesday. If Beal is in, expect Wizards to bounce back at home after losing three-straight at the Capital One Arena.

NBA Stat Sheet

Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Thursday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers contest.

NBA Tip-Off Show

Join Joe Raineri and a rotating panel of guests for the NBA Tip-Off Show at 4:15pm ET / 1:15pm PT as we discuss tonight’s marquee games. Stay up-to-date on the latest NBA news, stats, analysis, and predictions with our panel of professional handicappers as they preview tonight’s NBA action, including this Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers clash, from a betting perspective.

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