The Washington Wizards find themselves with an immediate chance to seek retribution after a demoralizing loss as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Follow Us
The Washington Wizards find themselves with an immediate chance to seek retribution after a demoralizing loss as they face the Cleveland Cavaliers again on Friday, this time in Cleveland.
In the initial game of the two-game series, the Cavaliers received scoring and rebounding contributions from all 11 players who entered the game, resulting in a resounding 140-101 victory over the visiting Wizards. Matching their most significant margin of victory against the Wizards, the Cavaliers achieved season-high performances in various aspects, such as points, 3-point shooting percentage (47.6), and rebounds (62).
Cleveland replicated its season-high in offensive rebounds by securing 18, translating them into 35 points. This aspect, highlighted by Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr., stands out as an area that demands improvement if his team aims to enhance competitiveness in the upcoming rematch.
For the Cavaliers, Garland (broken jawbone), Mobley (knee injury), and Rubio (personal reasons) will not be playing the game. Besides, Jerome could also be sitting this one out due to an ankle injury. As for the Wizards, no injuires have been reported and all players are expected to be available for the game.
Undoubtedly, the away team witnessed not just the Cleveland home crowd reveling in the blowout, but also enthusiastic celebrations from the Cavaliers’ bench. Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff made no apologies for the spirited sideline festivities, frequently involving his starters cheering on their backups, even as the game neared a 40-point margin.
While the Cavaliers have enjoyed double-digit victories, a cautionary note emerges as they have experienced subsequent losses three times this season. Notably, this pattern occurred after their most recent significant win, a 128-105 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks, followed by a 103-95 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers just two days later.
Likewise, the Wizards are familiar with responding resiliently after substantial losses. Notably, their latest victory, a 110-104 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets, occurred just two days following a 30-point setback handed to them by the Toronto Raptors.
In a peculiar trend, each of Washington’s six victories this season has been preceded by a double-digit loss, with the average point differential in those defeats exceeding double digits.
Despite the setback, the evening held some positives for the Wizards, who now embark on two games in Cleveland, flanked by a four-game homestand and two additional home contests on Saturday and Monday.
Get the latest from Sportslumo.com by following us on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
