[et_pb_dcsbcm_divi_breadcrumbs_module hide_homebreadcrumb=”off” homebreadcrumbtext=”Home” separator=”sep-raquo” hide_currentbreadcrumb=”off” homebreadcrumborientation=”left” _builder_version=”3.8″ fontsbreadcrumbs_font=”Lato||||||||” fontsbreadcrumbs_text_color=”#000000″ fontsbreadcrumbs_font_size=”15px” fontsbreadcrumbs_line_height=”16px” fontsseperator_font=”||||||||” fontsbreadcrumblinks_font=”||||||||” fontsbreadcrumblinks_text_color=”#2567cf” custom_margin=”25px|||” custom_margin_phone=”30px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_css_main_element=”font-family: Helvetica Regular;” disabled=”on” global_module=”3641″ saved_tabs=”all”][/et_pb_dcsbcm_divi_breadcrumbs_module]

Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards Pick

by Keith Franks | Last updated Jan 24, 2019 | nba

Golden State Warriors (33-14 SU, 21-25-1 ATS) vs. Washington Wizards (20-26 SU, 20-26 ATS)
When: Thursday, January 24th, 2019 – 8:00 PM ET
Where: Capital One Arena – Washington, D.C.
TV: TSN
By: Keith Franks, NBA Handicapper, Predictem.com

Point Spread: GS -10 / WAS +10 (Intertops Sportsbook)
Total: 234.5
Power Rankings: Washington +8

Takeaways From Golden State and Washington’s Most Recent Games

The Warriors look like the two-time defending champions they are as they step into this contest on an eight-game winning streak. Most recently, Golden State generated their second consecutive cover as a 13-point favorite when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 130-111 on Monday in the City of Angels.

The Wizards overall enter in good form as they have won four of their last five matches. Most recently, the Wizards hosted the Detroit Pistons in D.C. on Monday and defeated them 101-87 to cover easy as a 5.5-point favorite.

How the Public is Betting the Golden State- Washington Game

At the time this article was written, 63% of the consensus like the Warriors in this spot. As a result of this lean by the public, the line has moved upward by a point from the opening number of -9 to reflect the action coming in on the Warriors.

The Historicals

The Washington-Golden State series has been one that has been dominated by the Warriors as of late as they have won eight of the last nine contests between both teams. The two parties last met in October in Oakland where the W’s rolled onto a 144-122 victory over the Warriors easily covering as a ten-point favorite.

Injury Concerns

The Warriors come into this contest with no prevailing injury concerns to key players. On the contrary, Wizards Point Guard John Wall is out for the season after undergoing heel surgery. The loss of Wall is a huge blow to the Wizards’ offense as he is known as one of the best facilitators in the league.

Rest Advantages and Concerns

The Wizards have been home for over two weeks as they have played a home-stand that comprises six games. This meeting with Golden State will conclude that home-stand before the Wizards take to the road to face San Antonio on Sunday. In terms of rest, both teams have not been in action for three days. However, the Warriors are on the third game of a five-game road trip that concludes in Philadelphia next Monday. The first two games of this road trip were played in Los Angeles which is a far easier cross-state trip for the Warriors as opposed to traveling over 2,500 miles across three-time zones to face the Wizards here. Travel fatigue and jet-lag could be a huge influencing factor in this contest.

Washington Will Go To The Bench To Try To Keep It Close

Outside of the Warriors’ possibly being jet-lagged, the Wizards have one advantage working to their favor: their bench. Golden State’s bench accrues just 30.4 points per outing. Contrarily, Washington holds a 7.1-point edge in this capacity as their bench generates 37.5 points per game. This will be the Wizards’ calling card as their 29th ranked scoring defense that gives up 115.8 points per game will have its hands full against the best offense in the NBA.

Golden State Will Look To Deploy Top Ranked Offense To Get Another Win

The Warriors reputation as a shooting team will precede them here as they continue to own the best scoring offense in the NBA averaging 118.7 points per game while also boding the best field goal percentage (48.9%) in the league as well along with the second-best three-point field goal percentage (39%) in the league. It doesn’t stop there. Golden State is also the best free-throw shooting team in the league hitting 81.8% of their attempts. This in particular can seem daunting for a Washington team that sits dead last in opponent free-throw percentage as the opposition hits 78.3% of their attempts against the Wizards.

Betting Trends

Outside of Golden State’s recent success in this series, the most notable trend concerning these two franchises is the Under being 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings between both teams.

Keith’s Pick to Cover the Spread: Washington +10

As a general rule of thumb, when you back the Warriors you can expect betting websites to ask you to pay a slightly inflated price because of their pedigree. This is why Golden State has a losing ATS record despite owning one of the best overall records in the NBA. When Golden State gets hot as they have recently the tendency to be overvalued becomes heightened. Other books would suggest this is already the case as the Wizards are likely taking back an extra bucket in the current market. The fact remains that the Warriors’ may not be as efficient as they normally are given the prospect of travel fatigue and when you couple that with Washington’s stellar bench play the Wizards can hang around and come in under an inflated number. On an opposite note, should Washington get its doors blown off there is backdoor potential in this contest as well should Golden State call the dogs off early. However, it will not come to that.