How good are the Wizards? The team had high expectations entering the season and got off to an abysmal start, something fueled by a roster that could gel for multiple reasons. Although, after a rash of early-season injuries and positive COVID-19 tests, Washington is starting to look a lot closer to what we thought they may be entering the year.
Washington has won seven games in a row after their win over the Thunder on Friday. To put that in perspective, only 10 other teams have compiled winning streaks that long this season.
“None of those teams in the Eastern Conference want to see the Wizards with Russ and Bradley in the playoffs. They’re gonna win the play-in,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley recently proclaimed.
Now, I’m not sure the Sixers, Nets, or Bucks are shaking at the thought of playing the Wizards in the first round, though Washington would give them tougher matchups than other middling teams like the Hornets or Pacers. The club currently sits in the 10th seed in the East, 1.5 games ahead of the Bulls for the last play-in spot in the conference.
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- Jordan Bell‘s second 10-day contract with the Wizards came to an end and the team will hold off on re-signing him (they’d be forced to re-sign him for the remainder of the regular season). The team likes what Bell has provided them during his various stints with the club and there’s a “good chance” he returns to the franchise at some point in the future, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports.
- Collin Sexton won’t suit up against the Wizards on Sunday because of a concussion. The guard suffered the injury during the loss to the Hornets on Friday (you can find Sam Amico’s latest Dribbles here). The Cavaliers will also be without Dylan Windler, Taurean Prince, and Damyean Dotson.
- The Wizards will be without Rui Hachimura for the contest. Washington is also missing Deni Avdija, who suffered a fractured right ankle and is out for the season.
- Russell Westbrook has notched a triple-double in nine of his last ten games and in 18 of his last 25. The former MVP leads the league, compiling 28 on the season (Nikola Jokic is second with 15 triple-doubles).
- Betting on the Wizards (-7) vs. the Cavaliers? Get a $500 risk-free bet at PointsBet. Promo code: MVPBet
- ICYMI: Daniel Gafford believed there was a “50-50” chance that the Bulls would trade him prior to this year’s deadline. The big man is thriving with the Wizards, giving them much-needed athletism in the paint.
