Washington @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2017 ) Cleveland 106, Washington 99

The Cleveland Cavaliers aren't showing many troublesome spots with their revamped roster as they search for their fifth consecutive win when they host the Washington Wizards on Thursday. Cleveland scored 120 or more points in each contest, the first victory occurring before the trading deadline and others coming after the reconfiguration.

The Cavaliers rid themselves of disappointing guard Isaiah Thomas as part of the purge that saw forward Larry Nance Jr. and guard Jordan Clarkson arrive from the Los Angeles Lakers, swingman Rodney Hood come from the Utah Jazz and point guard George Hill relocate from the Sacramento Kings. Cleveland is averaging 126 points during its winning streak, which includes a 121-99 dismantling of the Boston Celtics, the second-place team in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers reside in third in the East, just 1 1/2 games ahead of the surging Wizards, who have won seven of their past nine games. Washington is playing surprisingly well without All-Star point guard John Wall (knee), who will miss about three more weeks before returning.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (33-24): Washington faces a tough six-game stretch coming out of the break that includes games against two conference powers - the Toronto Raptors (East) and Golden State Warriors (second in West) - in addition to the Cavaliers. Washington has a bit of a cushion as play resumes with the ninth-place Detroit Pistons sitting five games back, but All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal is mildly concerned. "We're all there neck and neck," Beal told reporters. "Everybody's going to continue to get better. After All-Star (break) is where it really begins. Everybody has 24, 25 games left, so they're going to fly by."

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (34-22): Injured power forward Kevin Love (broken left hand) was one of the happy players when the roster underwent sweeping changes. He was the victim of a verbal tirade from now-departed Dwyane Wade in a team meeting and he said it was apparent that the chemistry needed to be changed. "It might not have been a bad thing to get some fresh faces in there and guys from situations where they really wanted to win," Love told reporters. "I think first and foremost, seeing those (new) guys in Atlanta, they didn't play, but they got there right after the trade and they just said they want to win. You can tell when somebody says it, you can tell when somebody means it. They really meant it and it felt good to have that there."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Cavaliers are 2-0 against the Wizards this season and won nine of the past 12 meetings.

2. Washington PG Tim Frazier, who took a knee to the nose on Feb. 10, is questionable.

3. Cleveland PG Jose Calderon is eight assists away from 5,000 for his career.

PREDICTION: Cavaliers 116, Wizards 111