The Washington Wizards are set to close its 2025-26 season
Washington Wizards (17-64, 6-34 away) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-30, 26-14 home)
When: Sunday, April 12, 6:00 pm
Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
TV: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
For the final time this 2025-26 season, the Washington Wizards go on the road to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
It's been a season of little highs and plenty of lows for the Wizards, and they look to end on a high note with a win against a Cavaliers team that is fully capable of making a deep run in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This is the third consecutive season that they will finish with fewer than 20 wins, with high hopes of turning this around for next season. Washington is coming off of a 23 point loss to the Miami Heat on Friday and officially securing a top-five pick in the upcoming NBA draft, they have the chance to break their nine game losing streak.
The Wizards have lost all three prior matchups this season to the Cavs, allowing 130+ points in every matchup. Washington hasn't been able to put up great defense performances as of lately, so if they can't do so yet again, they'll have to turn to their offense to give them a chance at a win.
In their last 10 games, the Wizards have been shooting 47.6% from the field and averaging 115.3 points per game. Much of that shooting production has come from young Wizards star Bub Carrington, who has averaged 10.6 ppg and Jaden Hardy, who has also averaged 13.3 ppg in his last 10 games.
Cleveland is expected to have a skeleton crew for tomorrow, with star players out to rest for injuries and injury preventions to be ready for the playoffs. The Cavs have Jarrett Allen OUT (injury management), Thomas Bryant OUT (calf), Donovan Mitchell OUT (ankle), Evan Mobley OUT (calf), James Harden OUT (rest), Dennis Schroder OUT (rest).
Meanwhile Washington will be looking the same as they have in the previous matchups, getting their young guys reps and experience going into next season. The Wizards will be without multiple players including Anthony Davis OUT (finger), Tristan Vukcevic OUT (knee), Justin Champagnie OUT (knee), Cam Whitmore OUT (shoulder), Tre Johnson OUT (foot), Alex Sarr OUT (toe), Kyshawn George OUT (elbow), D'Angelo Russell OUT (not injury related), Trae Young OUT (quad), Bilal Coulibaly OUT (right retrocalcaneal bursitis), Anthony Gill QUESTIONABLE (cervical/lumbar contusion; post traumatic headache).