Bodog Beat

With Shaquille O’Neal and Anderson Varejao likely sidelined again tonight, LeBron James will try to help the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center for the first time in more than two years.

NBA basketball betting odds have the Cavs listed as 5-point road favorites to do just that.

The Cavaliers have won five straight in spite of the frontcourt injuries, in large part because of James. He scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half Tuesday and finished with a season-high-tying 12 assists to help the Cavaliers win for the eighth time in nine games.

James is averaging 31.0 points and 8.2 assists during Cleveland’s winning streak, increasing his season averages to 27.8 and 8.0, respectively.

The Wizards will try to continue their home success against the Cavaliers and snap a six-game slide that started in Cleveland. They haven’t dropped seven in a row since last December.

Get your NBA Odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!