Washington WizardsOpen full analysis
Cleveland CavaliersOpen full analysis
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Washington Wizards 130–117 on April 12 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, controlling the matchup through superior efficiency and rebounding. N. Tomlin led Cleveland with 26 points, while T. Proctor added 22 in a balanced offensive attack that shot 53.9 percent from the field and made 18 three-pointers. The Cavaliers dominated the glass with 53 rebounds to Washington's 30 and posted a +16.5 point differential in offensive rating (129.7 to 113.2). Washington's J. Watkins recorded 24 points and B. Carrington chipped in 20, but the Wizards' 46.7 percent shooting and 12 turnovers proved insufficient against Cleveland's defensive intensity, which held an effective rating of 113.2. The game fell well short of the Vegas total of 234.5, with Cleveland's third-quarter surge (34 points) effectively putting the contest out of reach. The loss underscores Washington's continued struggles with rebounding and depth scoring, while Cleveland's balanced scoring and interior dominance position them favorably in the playoff race.
