Preview: Wizards head to Cleveland seeking second-consecutive win

The Wizards (32-37) are coming off a dominant win over the Pistons in D.C. and are actually headed to Cleveland to tackle a gifted Cavaliers squad (44-28). This is all the things you might want to know.

WHERE: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (Cleveland, OH)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSW+
RADIO: The Group 980 & The Wizards App

CAVALIERS:
Jarrett Allen (proper eye; contusion — out)

ESTABLISHING A PAINT PRESENCE

The Cavaliers have among the finest defenses within the league. They’re second in defensive ranking at 109.8 and first in opponent factors per sport at 106.8. The most important cause for his or her success on the defensive finish of the courtroom? Their skill to guard the paint. With Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley beginning alongside each other, opposing ball handlers are persistently deterred from attacking the rim. On the season, the Cavs are third in opponent factors within the paint, solely giving up 46.0 per sport.

Sadly for the Cavaliers, Allen will likely be sidelined for this sport resulting from a proper eye contusion. That opens the door for the Wizards to take management of the paint. The trio up entrance (Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis, and Daniel Gafford) are all 6-foot-9 or taller, and with Mobley because the lone large for the Cavs, the Wizards can have the scale benefit on each side of the ball. Mobley is an unbelievable defender, however the dimension benefit is one thing the Wizards can capitalize on. There’s solely a lot Mobley can do on his personal.

One other space the Cavs dominate is the turnover battle. They’re seventh within the league in turnovers (13.5 per sport) and much more spectacular is the speed they flip over opponents. They’re fourth in opponent turnover share at 16.0 and third in factors off turnovers at 19.2.

Defending the ball will likely be an space of focus for the Wizards — much more so than common. Monte Morris, Bradley Beal, and Kuzma will all should create offense whereas staying beneath management. Turnovers will occur. It is a part of the sport. So long as the turnovers are a byproduct of aggressive play, it must be effective. However sloppy turnovers and live-ball turnovers are killers in opposition to this Cavs crew. They scent blood within the water and so they go for it.

If the Wizards can restrict their turnovers, and get again on protection after they do flip the ball over, they will put themselves in place to win the sport.

Beal is within the midst of his greatest stretch of basketball this season. Over his final 15 video games, he has averaged 26.1 factors on absurdly environment friendly .510/.394/.833 capturing splits to go together with six assists and 4.5 rebounds.

He punctuated this run with a jaw-dropping efficiency within the Wizards’ Tuesday night win over the Pistons when he dropped 36 factors on 13-of-15 capturing from the sphere, 4-of-6 capturing from deep, and 6-of-6 capturing from the free throw line to go together with seven assists and 6 boards. He let the sport come to him, performed throughout the movement of the offense, took benefit of mismatches, and knocked down photographs — precisely what he is been doing over this complete stretch. To place it merely, Beal’s been balling, and the Wizards want it to proceed.

With Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell headlining, the Cavs have one of the dynamic backcourts within the league. Each guys have limitless vary, can get to the paint, and are good at creating appears to be like for his or her teammates. Beal’s skill to hold with these two guys will likely be a make-or-break a part of this matchup.