Two straight close wins have given the Cavaliers a fast start, but Wednesday night brings a new kind of challenge to Cleveland. The Wizards arrive with Trae Young pushing the ball and Anthony Davis controlling the paint. Washington is 2-2 through Monday’s games, while Cleveland is 2-1, and both teams are still writing the first pages of their 2026-27 story.

Cleveland has won its past two games by a total of six points, including Sunday’s 127-125 win over Minnesota. Those finishes show a team that can keep attacking when the fourth quarter gets loud. Donovan Mitchell leads that charge. He is scoring 26.7 points per game while hitting shots from deep range and driving hard toward the basket. Mitchell can turn a small opening into a big play, and Washington will need to stay connected to him all night.

James Harden gives Mitchell help as Cleveland’s main passer. His seven assists per game show how often he creates shots for teammates. Harden and Evan Mobley can be especially tough in a screen play, when a big player stands in a defender’s path to free a ball handler. Mobley can roll toward the hoop for a close shot, pop out for space, or use his quickness to make a second move. He has scored 18.7 points per game and grabbed 9.3 rebounds, helping Cleveland win extra possessions.

That strength near the rim meets a serious Washington wall. Davis also averages 9.3 rebounds, and his size makes every trip into the lane a difficult task. He leads the Wizards with 22.8 points per game, giving Young a powerful target inside. Cleveland’s Mobley and Jarrett Allen form a long, active front line, so Davis may have to work for room around the basket. This battle of big men could decide who controls missed shots and second chances.

Young brings a different kind of danger. His 11 assists per game lead this matchup by a wide margin, showing how quickly he can spot a cutter or find a teammate on the wing. Cleveland has collected 9.3 steals per game, so its guards and big men will try to crowd passing lanes without losing track of Young’s deep shot. Washington has made only 29.4 percent of its three-point tries so far. If the Wizards find better spacing and turn Young’s passes into open jumpers, they can make this a tense road game.

Washington’s young center Alex Sarr adds length and energy, while Cleveland’s 47 rebounds per game reveal a team eager to own the glass. The Wizards are also listed without rookie forward AJ Dybantsa, who is out with a possible return on Wednesday. That places even more responsibility on Young and Davis.

The Cavaliers have more early-season scoring, stronger rebounding, and home-court energy. Washington has enough star power to keep pace, but Cleveland’s defensive size should make the biggest difference. Prediction: The Cavaliers win.

Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young Set the Pace in Cleveland