Cavaliers @ Wizards on Monday - Kuzma out, pick and props

The Cavaliers visit the Wizards in Monday’s tightest game of the night. The Wizards have been rolling of late but are dealing with some injury concerns that could slow them down, while the Cavaliers will be mostly healthy for their visit to Washington. 

The Cavaliers have won three of their last four games and are 5-5 over their last 10. Donovan Mitchell appears to be over his groin injury and the Cavs’ core of Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro could be ready to go on a run now that health is no longer an issue. 

Okoro had his best game of the season on Saturday and hit 7-of-9 shots and three 3-pointers for 20 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and just one turnover. Garland scored 24 in that one, Mitchell had 19 on 6-of-18 shooting, Allen had 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Mobley had 17 points, 10 boards and three blocks in an easy win over the Pacers. Caris LeVert has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and is questionable tonight, while Ricky Rubio is out for rest tonight. If LeVert is out again, Okoro could be a sneaky fantasy streamer, while the rest of the Cavs are basically fantasy rock stars.

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The Wizards have more issues than the Cavs right now, as Kyle Kuzma (ankle)  has already been ruled out and Bradley Beal is questionable with his foot injury. Beal took part in this morning’s shootaround and it sounds like there’s a good chance he’ll play tonight, but Kuzma’s absence is a big deal given how strong Cleveland’s front court is. 

The Wizards were rolling after a six-game winning streak but have now lost two straight against the Blazers and Nets. Kristaps Porzingis had 38 points in Saturday’s tough loss to the Nets, Monte Morris scored 18 with eight assists, center Daniel Gafford had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Corey Kispert, starting for Beal, scored 15. Deni Avdija also got hot and scored 23 off the bench with a full stat line. 

In their previous meeting this season the Cavs got a 10-point win in overtime as Beal scored 27, Porzingis double-doubled, Morris scored 13 and Kuzma had 11 points in 37 minutes. Rui Hachimura was instrumental in that game with 16 points and three boards but he’s since been traded to the Lakers. Beal, Porzingis and Avdija have been hot for the cold Wizards and Avdija added six rebounds, three assists, four steals and four 3-pointers in his 34 minutes against the Nets on Saturday. Avdija has scored in double digits in six of his last eight games and he’s also rebounding, stealing the ball and hitting 3-pointers. But in those two games where he didn’t hit double digits, he completely disappeared, scoring a total of two points on 0-of-13 shooting. But in a vacuum, he’s been very reliable of late. 

Top Oddscrowd betting performer bodysurfoceanside likes the Over in this game and we like the Wizards to get back in the win column against a Cavs team that is just 11-16 away from Cleveland. 

Pick: Wizards +2

Pick 2: Over 222 points

Prop 1: Kristaps Porzingis Over 33.5 points and rebounds

Prop 2: Jarrett Allen Over 25.5 points and rebounds

Prop 3: Monte Morris Over 16.5 points and assists