Washington vs Cleveland Prediction: the Improved Defense Against the Best Defense

Cleveland defeated Indiana in brilliant style and will play Washington the next day at the Capital One Arena. Will J.B. Bickerstaff's team deal with the Wizards with the same confidence? Recall that the Cavs have the best defense this season.

Washington has won six straight games and is back in the playoff race, but then had a poor back-to-back. First, the Wizards lost at home to Portland (116-124), giving up a 20-point second-half lead. They struggled on the road against Brooklyn (123-125) without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, missing 40+ from sophomore Cameron Thomas. It's worth noting that, like in the game against Portland, Washington led by +21 in the third quarter against Brooklyn. After their winning streak, Wes Unseld's team looked like they were afraid they might end up in the postseason.

The Cavaliers have been unsuccessful on the road this season, but they still have to defeat the Pacers in Indianapolis, 122-103, in their last game. Darius Garland scored 24 points, Isaac Okoro had 20 points, and Evan Mobley (17 points and ten rebounds) and Jarrett Allen (18 + 13) contributed a double-double. Cleveland, among other things, once again reiterated that they remain the best defense in the league. J.B. Bickerstaff's team is conceding just 106.9 points per game.

Cleveland has been brilliant on defense this season. Washington has improved as well, and although it has been unsuccessful on their half in the previous two games, it has not allowed an opponent to score more than 110 points in four of the six meetings before that. Cleveland, of course, is the favorite but they will have a back-to-back. The more so, and their rivalry recently mostly ended with the TU results.