The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up for a trip to Washington to face the Wizards after a solid victory over the Toronto Raptors and an upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons. The Cavaliers have started their season strong and look ready to build on last year’s success as one of the Eastern Conference's top teams.
Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards are seeking redemption after an underwhelming start. They lost their season opener against the Boston Celtics by a sizable 122-102 margin. The Celtics entered as clear favorites, but the Wizards had hoped to put up a stronger showing against the defending NBA Champions. Now, as they aim to turn things around, they face another formidable challenge in the Cavaliers.
Washington found some early promise from Jordan Poole, who scored 17 points in the first quarter against the Celtics. His offensive outburst provided a glimmer of hope, but the Wizards struggled defensively as the game progressed. The Celtics capitalized on this by controlling the paint and pulling away in the third quarter. Poole’s strong opening performance, however, suggests he might be the consistent scorer the Wizards have been looking for in a lead guard role.
The Wizards, however, are still in a developmental phase. Seven-foot rookie and No. 2 overall pick Alexandre Sarr is adjusting to the NBA level, and his first game showed some challenges. Sarr managed just five rebounds and two points from seven field goal attempts, a modest start that reflects the learning curve he faces as he steps into a prominent role for the Wizards.
Cleveland is performing consistently on both ends of the court. Over their last ten games, the Cavaliers have maintained a balanced record with five wins and five losses. They’re averaging 106.1 points per game on 47.6% shooting from the field and 75.6% from the free-throw line. Additionally, they’re contributing 37.7 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 7.1 steals, and 4.7 blocks per game. Their defense has also been solid, holding opponents to an average of 104.9 points and 44.1 rebounds per game.
Donovan Mitchell leads the Cavaliers' offense with an average of 25.2 points, including 2.5 three-pointers per game at a 37.3% clip. Darius Garland contributes to the playmaking with 5.7 assists per game, while Evan Mobley anchors the boards with an average of 9.7 rebounds per game.
The Wizards, on the other hand, have had a rough stretch in their last ten games, with a record of one win and nine losses. They’re scoring 112.7 points per game on 46.9% shooting from the field and 75.7% from the free-throw line. Despite the losses, they’ve managed respectable averages of 41.6 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 7.5 steals, and 4.6 blocks per game. However, their defense has allowed opponents to pull down 49.6 rebounds and score 120.4 points on average per game.
Corey Kispert has been a standout for Washington, averaging 17.5 points per game and making an impressive 41.7% of his three-point attempts (3.0 per game). Jordan Poole has been the primary playmaker with 6.3 assists per game, while Deni Avdija leads in rebounding, averaging 7.3 boards per game.