Game Info

When: Tuesday, January 29 at 7 pm Eastern Time
Where: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
TV: NBC Sports Washington

Injury Report

Wizards: Sam Dekker (Questionable, Back), Ian Mahinmi (Questionable, Thumb), John Wall (Out, Heel), Markieff Morris (Out, Neck), Dwight Howard (Out, Back)

Cavaliers: Tristan Thompson (Out, Foot), David Nwaba (Out, Ankle), John Henson (Out, Wrist), Kevin Love (Out, Foot), J.R. Smith (Out, Not a fan of tanking)

What to Watch for

You can’t lose to the Cavaliers twice

The 10-41 Cavaliers have only won three games by double digits this season. One came in early December when they beat the Wizards by 15 on the second night of back-to-back, in what was arguably Washington’s worst loss of the season. We see that loss in a new light now we know how much Wall’s heel was bothering him in that game, but it still doesn’t change how it counts in the loss column.

One would hope things go better this time around. The Wizards have found a new rhythm without Wall, and even though they’re dealing with some injuries of their own, the Cavaliers are even more banged up now than they were in their first meeting. Tristan Thompson, who dominated the paint with 23 points and 19 rebounds in that game, is out on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers have not beaten anyone multiple times this season and the Wizards should be in no rush to be the first. They need to win this one convincingly so they can save their energy for what should be a much more challenging game on Wednesday against the shorthanded, but still very pesky Indiana Pacers.

A random moment in Wizards - Cavaliers history: The DeShawn Stevenson - LeBron James beef