Cavaliers vs Hornets

Donovan Mitchell has driven Cleveland’s 24-20 push with a 29-point scoring average, and even on a one-game skid the Cavs enter Charlotte as the more proven group than the 16-27 Hornets, who are just 7-12 at home despite a recent uptick. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) With Darius Garland and Max Strus ruled out along with depth guard Sam Merrill, Cleveland will again lean heavily on a Mitchell–Evan Mobley–Jarrett Allen core, but that trio has historically handled this matchup well, including a 139-132 win over Charlotte in December and a 4-0 sweep of last season’s series even though the Hornets stole this year’s first meeting in overtime. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810257?utm_source=openai)) Charlotte, meanwhile, has quietly won three of its last five behind LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, yet still sits 12th in the East and faces a steeper climb in the playoff race than a Cavs team currently seventh and hunting a top-six seed. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) Given Cleveland’s overall talent edge, proven success versus this opponent and higher postseason leverage, I like the Cavaliers to win outright at -150, but the price is only mildly attractive, so I grade this moneyline a B- for solid win probability but modest value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/01/2026 09:37

LaMelo Ball and the Hornets have turned games into track meets lately, hanging 135, 150 and 110 points in signature road wins during a two-week stretch where they’ve posted a top-four net rating in the league, and now they get a Cavaliers team averaging 119.6 scored and 117.8 allowed per night. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) Cleveland’s last five have featured scores like 146-134 and 133-107, while Charlotte’s recent run includes a 150-95 demolition of Utah and a 135-117 win over the Lakers, signaling elevated pace and shot volume on both sides. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) The head-to-head trends back offense too: their December clash finished 139-132, and even last season’s meetings routinely saw Cleveland’s stars carving up Charlotte’s defense. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810257?utm_source=openai)) Garland and Strus being out slightly dings Cleveland’s shooting depth but also weakens their perimeter defense, while Charlotte’s main creators (Ball, Miller, Bridges, Knueppel) are healthy and aggressively hunting threes, making extended scoring runs likely on both sides. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) With the combined season scoring profile landing right on this 236.5 number but recent form skewing higher, I lean to Over 236.5 (-110) and grade it a B, expecting another up-tempo, whistle-heavy game that threatens 240-plus points if the late-game shot-making holds. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/01/2026 09:37

Charlotte’s improved form, featuring a 150-95 blowout in Utah, a 135-117 win over the Lakers and a 110-87 stunner in Denver, makes the Hornets attractive home underdogs catching +3.5 against a Cavs side that’s just 10-9 on the road and coming off a 32-point loss to Oklahoma City. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) The Cavs remain short-handed in the backcourt with Garland and Strus sidelined, forcing heavy on-ball responsibility onto Mitchell and reducing their margin for error late in games, while Charlotte’s rotation of Ball, Miller, Bridges and Knueppel is intact outside of depth injuries to KJ Simpson and Mason Plumlee plus a nagging issue for Tidjane Salaun. ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401810475/cavaliers-hornets)) Season series results also hint at a tight spread: the Hornets already stole an overtime win in Cleveland, and the Cavs’ 139-132 victory in the rematch still landed within single digits, reinforcing that Charlotte’s offense can keep them within one or two possessions even when they don’t close. ([fearthesword.com](https://www.fearthesword.com/cup-of-cavs/43248/cup-of-cavs-nba-news-and-links-for-wednesday-jan-21?utm_source=openai)) With Cleveland still the better overall team but Charlotte riding a positive net-rating surge and desperate to stay in the play-in hunt, I’ll take the points with the Hornets at +3.5 (-120) and grade it a B-, acknowledging the extra juice but trusting recent momentum and home court to keep this within a bucket either way. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 21/01/2026 09:37