The Washington Wizards need to break the losing spell they’ve been under for the past few weeks. They’ve won just two games thus far this month, which has seen them drop steadily in the Eastern Conference standings. It won’t get much easier for the wounded Wizards as the league-leading Golden State Warriors come to town looking to bounce back from a rare defeat.
But with Stephen Curry questionable with an ankle problem, this might just be the break the Wizards need to get back to winning ways. Read on as we preview this tasty hoops offering. For more of Tuesday’s great NBA action, check out our previews of the Cavs vs. Pistons and Pacers vs. Thunder.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards Betting Preview
Where: Verizon Center, Washington DC
When: Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards – view all NBA lines
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
As it turns out, Stephen Curry is pretty valuable to the Golden State Warriors (43-10). Without their MVP candidate guard, the Warriors started their six-game Eastern road trip with a 104-98 loss at Indiana. Klay Thompson led the Dubs with 39 big points, but Andre Iguodala (14 points) was the only other Warrior that scored in double-figures.
The win snapped the Warrior’s four-game winning streak, but have now gone five road games in a row without covering the spread.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Curry is still listed as day-to-day with his ankle injury, but a day’s rest could improve his chances of returning to the lineup. The Warriors will be hoping their leading scorer (23.6 points per game) comes back, with Thompson unlikely to have another huge game and Shaun Livingston (5.3 points per game) limited offensively.
If Curry does sit out again, the Warriors will need the likes of Harrison Barnes and David Lee to step up offensively. The two are averaging around 19 points per game combined this season, but they had just six points each against the Pacers. They did have 27 points on 12-for-16 shooting in their prior game, a 110-99 win against San Antonio.
Thompson and Barnes should have a significant advantage on the wing against Washington’s Paul Pierce and Garrett Temple. Pierce and Temple struggled mightily against Detroit, and were minus-19 and minus-27 in plus/minus, respectively.
Thompson and the Warriors could also capitalize on a Washington defense that has given up a shocking 27 three-pointers on 40 percent shooting in its first two games since the All-Star break.
Create a betting account now and start capitalizing on one of the NBA’s juggernauts.
Betting on the Washington Wizards
The All-Star break hasn’t seemed to solve whatever it is that’s currently ailing the Washington Wizards (33-23). The Wiz have now gone 2-8 in their last 10 games (3-7 against the spread) thanks to blowout losses to the Cavs (127-89) and Pistons (106-89) in their first two games back from the break.
The Wizards haven’t had much consistent production from their wings to offset their very lax three-point defense. Paul Pierce (12.5 points per game) has continued his very inconsistent play all through this season.
And with Bradley Beal still out with a stress fracture, head coach Randy Wittman has used the likes of Otto Porter, Rasual Butler, Garrett Temple and Martell Webster, but no one has been able to fill Beal’s void in the lineup.
Not even All-Star John Wall’s brilliance has been able to lift the Wizards to wins. Wall is averaging 17 points and 10 assists in his last 10 games, but great performances like his 28/8/12 (points/rebounds/assists) against Toronto and 24/7/9 against Atlanta have been in a losing effort.
Wall could have another huge game against the league-leading Warriors, especially if Curry sits out and Wall doesn’t need to expend as much energy on defense. However, the Wizards have struggled against good teams all season long. They’re just 10-17 against teams with .500 records or better this season.
Writer’s Prediction
With or without Curry, the Warriors recover to win and cover against the slumping Wizards.
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