Washington Wizards vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Lineups, preview & prediction 4/5/18


The Cavaliers (48-30) have won four straight and nine of their last ten as they try to fend off the Indiana Pacers for the Central Division title and the rampaging Philadelphia 76ers for third in the East. They extended their winning streak and maintained their two-game advantage over the Pacers with a 112-106 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.

LeBron James had 27 points and ten rebounds while Kevin Love added 15 and 15 for the Cavaliers. The pair combined to sink 14 of 17 free throws as the two outscored the Wizards at the foul line by themselves while Cleveland amassed a 23-11 advantage in free throws.

Point guard George Hill is questionable for this contest after missing the last two games with a sprained ankle. Jose Calderon had 19 points, four assists and hit three of five from 3-point range filling in for Hill and has 27 points in the last two games.

Washington (42-36) have clinched a playoff berth, but they have slipped behind Miami via tiebreaker in the race for the Southeast Division title with back-to-back losses after a 120-104 setback at Houston on Tuesday night. The Wizards are seventh in the Eastern Conference, with the winner of the Southeast likely to face the Cavaliers in the first round.

Bradley Beal scored 27 points, but the Wizards got little from traditional center Marcin Gortat due to Houston's pace. Gortat played just 14 minutes and finished with four points, and his absence allowed Rockets center Clint Capela to total 21 points and ten rebounds while Houston hit 16 3-pointers overall.

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