The Cleveland Cavaliers won 64 games last season, the most in the Eastern Conference. Through 29 games, the Cavs are barely above .500 at 15-14 heading into Monday’s action.
All-Star G Donovan Mitchell and his crew look to snap a three-game slide, hosting the 9-19 Charlotte Hornets. This losing streak for Cleveland began with a 119-111 overtime setback to Cleveland last Sunday as hefty 12.5-point favorites.
The Hornets sit in fourth place of the Southeast division, but are on pace for 26 victories. Last season, Charlotte finished with a 19-63 mark, missing the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year.
Let’s look at the Hornets vs. Cavaliers prediction and picks for Monday night’s battle at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Hornets vs. Cavaliers Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
Cleveland owns an 8-21 record against the spread, the worst mark of any team in the NBA. The Cavaliers lost outright as a favorite 12 times, including each of the last three against Charlotte and Chicago twice.
Hornets vs. Cavaliers Over/Under, Spread
The Cavaliers enter this matchup as 9.5-point favorites, returning a 1.25x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Hornets are road underdogs with a 3.7x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -9.5
- Over/Under: 236.5
- Game Winner Payout: Hornets 3.7x | Cavaliers 1.25x
(Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change)
Hornets vs. Cavaliers Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to get you set for Hornets vs. Cavaliers tonight, including insights on our Hornets vs. Cavaliers prediction.
- The Cavaliers not only own the worst spread record in the league, but are 6-23 ATS in the first half. At home, Cleveland has covered the number in the first half at home twice in 17 games.
- Since Thanksgiving, the Cavs are 1-5 ATS at Rocket Arena, with the lone cover coming in a 130-117 victory over San Antonio on December 5.
- The Hornets covered four of their last six as a road underdog, in spite of dropping a 112-86 decision at Detroit on Saturday.
- Charlotte began the season hitting the over four straight times, but are 18-6 to the under in the past 24 games.
- Cleveland finished second in the league last season in field goal percentage at 49.1%. This season, the Cavs have slid to 23rd at 45.7%, one spot in front of the Hornets at 45.3%.
- The Cavs closed as a double-digit favorite in the previous six matchups with the Hornets. Charlotte managed to cover the number four times, including in each of the past two visits to Rocket Arena.
Hornets vs. Cavs Prediction, Picks
Here are three top Hornets vs. Cavaliers picks to target on Monday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by three players: Cleveland G Donovan Mitchell, Charlotte G/F Kon Knueppel, and Hornets F Miles Bridges.
Cavaliers G Donovan Mitchell vs. Hornets Projection: 30.5 Points
- Mitchell ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring, averaging a career-high 30.7 points per game.
- The former Louisville standout leads the league with 105 made 3-pointers. Golden State G Stephen Curry is the only player ahead of Mitchell averaging more 3-pointers per game.
- The Hornets shut down the ninth-year man last Sunday, holding him to 17 points on 6-of-24 shooting from the floor.
- Mitchell is listed as probable after missing Friday’s 136-125 loss to Chicago due to an illness.
- In four of the past five home games, the former Jazz star scored less than 29 points.
Hornets G/F Kon Knueppel vs. Cavaliers Projection: 17.5 Points
- The 2025 first-rounder out of Duke started 27 of 28 games and is averaging 19.4 ppg.
- Knueppel reached double-digit scoring 24 times, including 29 points in the first matchup against Cleveland.
- In the last four games, the 20-year old drilled 18 shots from downtown and is burying 40.9% of his 3-point attempts.
- The Cavs rank 22nd in defensive 3-point percentage at 36.7%.
- Knueppel’s usage rate sits at 21.5%, seventh on the Hornets.
- Since the start of December, the Milwaukee native finished with 18 or more points in six of eight outings.
Hornets F Miles Bridges vs. Cavaliers Projection: 23.5 Pts+Rebs
- Bridges is the only Hornet to start all 28 games this season, leading the club in scoring at 21.1 ppg.
- In the last 19 games, the former Michigan State star has pulled down double-digit rebounds just once. It came against Cleveland last Sunday, snatching 10 boards in 39 minutes of the overtime triumph.
- The 12th pick of the 2018 draft amassed at least 24 points and rebounds in four consecutive games from December 5 through 14. He’s been limited to 21 or less points and rebounds in each of the past two contests.
- Bridges’ scoring average drops by nearly 5 points on the road. He puts up 23.4 ppg at home compared to 18.8 ppg away from Spectrum Center.
- To begin December, the southpaw shooter struggled from downtown, connecting on 1-of-20 attempts. In the last four outings, Bridges has heated up from deep, hitting 12-of-26 shots.
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The Cavaliers look to end their cold streak, while trying to avenge a home loss to the Hornets eight days ago.
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