With three defeats in their last five games, the Cavaliers are certainly in danger of losing the number one seed to the second-placed Boston Celtics.
Of course, they are still the online betting favourites to keep the top spot. They are the defending champion after all. Nonetheless, betting odds are slowly swinging away from them, and sports betting pundits are starting to doubt if they can keep their seat especially after the 12-point drubbing they received from the Washington Wizards.
Washington Wizards 127-115 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland’s Big Three combined for 64 points in the game…the problem is, Washington’s John Wall and Bradley Beal did it too.
Additionally, the Wizards’ backcourt duo did it in a more efficient way, with Wall shooting 66.7 percent from the field while Beal had 47.4 percent. It also helped them that the other starters all scored in double figures.
With the loss, the Cavs now need to take the W when they visit the Spurs if they want to stay at the top of the East. A victory will be more critical if the Celtics win their game against the Heat.
Utah Jazz 95-108 LA Clippers
The Clippers cut the Jazz’ lead for the fourth seed to just a half game, thanks to an excellent scoring night from Jamal Crawford who tallied 28 off the bench. LA led by 14 at the end of the opening frame and never gave up their advantage despite a strong Utah fightback in the second and third quarters.
On the other hand, amid the loss, the Jazz would hope that Gordon Hayward’s knee injury—obtained after bumping knees with Austin Rivers early in the fourth quarter—isn’t that serious.
Toronto Raptors 94-86 Dallas Mavericks
These are experimenting days for Dallas as they have surrendered chasing the West eighth seed, so it isn’t surprising that they succumbed to the Raptors who now won their fifth straight game.
Also, the game wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggests as the Raps led by as much as 16 points with DeMar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka scoring 18 each.
New York Knicks 98-106 San Antonio Spurs
Trailing by 18 points at the half, Derrick Rose and Willy Hernangomez – who both finished with 24 – sparked the Knicks’ 31-17 third quarter rally to keep them within striking distance from the Spurs entering the final canto. However, it wasn’t enough as San Antonio held on in the fourth behind the big plays of Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills and Pau Gasol.
The results could have been different though if Carmelo Anthony (left knee soreness) was available for the Knickerbockers.
Minnesota Timberwolves 100-112 Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum kept Portland in the hunt for the last playoff spot in the West as they did the heavy lifting to take down the Wolves at the Moda Center.
Minnesota had a balanced offence with six players reaching double figures, but McCollum’s 32 and Lillard’s 21 proved too much to overcome even for Tom Thibodeau’s side.
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