NBA Betting Odds – Woeful Wizards Host King James’ Cavaliers

Cavaliers (-4) at Washington (-4)
(O/U) 196
7:00 PM ET

The Washington Wizards (2-7 SU, 2-7 ATS, 2-7 O/U) were being hyped up as a likely playoff contender this season after hiring veteran head coach Flip Saunders and adding consistent scorers Mike Miller and Randy Foye to an already explosive offense that featured versatile forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler.

After getting off to a solid 1-1 start over its first two regular season games, things have gone totally south for a Washington ballclub that also got back high-scoring combo guard Gilbert Arenas after nearly two years away from the game.

Now, riding a six-game losing streak, the reeling Wizards will play host to a Cleveland Cavaliers (8-3 SU, 5-6 ATS, 5-6 O/U) team that is starting to come together after adding Shaquille O’Neal this offseason; they have won five consecutive games coming into this contest.

Key Trends

• Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
• Wizards are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
• Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
• Underdog is 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
• Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Washington.

Washington

The Wizards have failed to cover the spread in each of their six straight losses coming into this contest, but added veteran guard Earl Boykins last Wednesday as Foye, Mike James and Javaris Crittenton have all gone down to injuries recently.

The diminutive Boykins immediately put up 20 points in Washington’s 106-103 home loss to Detroit on Saturday. Washington is averaging 94.2 points per game and giving up 98.9 points per game.

Cleveland

The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in two consecutive games coming into tonight’s showdown, including their 114-108 win over Golden State on Tuesday just as I predicted in the BetUS locker room. Cleveland is averaging 99.5 points per game this season while allowing 94.3 points per contest defensively.

Analysis: These two rivals don’t like each other one iota NBA basketball bettors which is why I expect the Washington Wizards to make an extra effort to keep the Cavaliers from winning on their home floor in this matchup.

Having said that, I still don’t see how Washington can possibly win this ballgame.

The Wizards rarely play any defense while the Cavaliers have been one of the best teams in the league the past three seasons because of their outstanding defense.

The Cavaliers have been fantastic at cashing in for pro basketball gamblers on the road this season, going a perfect 4-0 ATS coming into this contest.

Washington hasn’t fared too well as an underdog in the early going of this season, failing to cover the NBA point spread in all five of the games that oddsmakers deemed them the underdog.

I know the Cavaliers have gone a surprising 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings and that the underdog in this series has gone a blistering 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings between these rivals, but I like the Cavaliers to emphatically buck both of those trends tonight.

This pick is another no-brainer for cavaliers backers, much like Tuesday night’s, except this time, I’m going with the Cavs to cover the NBA point spread and not against them.

NBA Free Picks: Cavaliers -4 Points