CLEVELAND, Ohio — After a five-day pause, the Cavs take on the Wizards on Friday night, and the timing couldn’t be more critical. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern.
The break offered rest, recovery and recalibration, but it also serves as a subtle test: how will this team respond coming out of a lull? Can they hit the ground running, or will they slip into the familiar pattern of relying on talent over tenacity?
The Wizards present the ideal return to the court. Injuries and inconsistency have left them vulnerable, and on paper, they shouldn’t be able to keep pace with Cleveland’s core of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
But for a team with legitimate championship aspirations, they can no longer afford to coast in any contest. Every possession matters. Every defensive rotation counts. Every small advantage won or lost can echo later in a playoff series against more battle-tested competition.
If the Cavs are serious about proving themselves, Friday night is about maintaining intensity, avoiding lapses and showing that they can dominate without bending to the level of their opponent. No shortcuts, no easing up, no cruise control.
The stretch run is coming, and the first test out of a break sets the tone for everything that follows.
How to watch the Cavs: See how to watch the Cavs games with this handy game-by-game TV schedule.
Here’s what to know about the matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards
Series: Second of four matchups in the regular season.
Where: Capital One Arena
When: 7 p.m. ET.
The point spread: Cavs minus-14.5; O/U 242.5
TV: FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio
Injury report
Cavs
Out:
- Jarrett Allen (right finger)
- Sam Merrill (right hand)
- Larry Nance Jr. (right calf)
- Max Strus (left foot)
- Luke Travers (G League – Two-Way)
Wizards
Questionable:
- Malaki Branham (right thumb)
Out:
- Bilal Coulibaly (right oblique)
- Corey Kispert (right thumb)
- Khris Middleton (right knee)
- Alex Sarr (right adductor)
