The Cleveland Cavaliers (35-21) will go head-to-head with the Charlotte Hornets (26-30) on Friday night at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, with tip-off at 7 p.m. ET. As the Cavaliers aim for their seventh consecutive win, BetMGM Sportsbook provides intriguing insights into the odds and predictions for this matchup.
The season series currently favors the Cavaliers, who lead 2-1. In their previous encounter on January 21, Cleveland edged out Charlotte with a narrow 94-87 victory while also covering a 3-point spread. In that game, Cavaliers’ star Donovan Mitchell showcased his scoring skills with 24 points, despite committing eight turnovers. Rookie forward Kon Knueppel made an impact for the Hornets, recording 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Heading into the game against Charlotte, the Cavaliers recently showcased their dominance by routing the Brooklyn Nets with a convincing 112-84 win as 15.5-point favorites. This performance included solid contributions from center Jarrett Allen, who recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland’s current form has been impressive, winning six straight games and posting a remarkable 11-1 straight-up record in their last 12 matchups, while also covering the spread in nine of their last 12.
On the other hand, the Hornets will try to rebound from their recent performance following the All-Star break, where they fell 105-101 to the Houston Rockets as 4.5-point underdogs. Despite that setback, Charlotte has performed well overall, having won 10 of their last 12 games and covering the spread in six of their last seven contests.
BetMGM’s current odds list the Cavaliers as slight favorites at -235 on the moneyline, while the Hornets are positioned at +195. The spread is set at Cavaliers -6.5, with an over/under of 233.5 points, reflecting both teams’ recent track records of hitting the under in several games.
In terms of injuries, the Cavaliers are monitoring the status of forward Max Strus (out) and Nae’Qwan Tomlin (questionable). The Hornets will check on guard Liam McNeeley (questionable) and guard Coby White (questionable) prior to the game.
Predictions suggest a tight battle between these two competitive teams. With both squads currently in good form, this game promises to be an entertaining contest. A suggested prediction is a close scoreline with the Cavaliers edging out the Hornets, but taking the Hornets at +6.5 may offer good value given their strong recent performance against the spread. The under 233.5 may also be a solid choice, considering both teams have been trending towards lower scoring outputs in their recent games.
As fans gear up for this exciting matchup, the potential for a thrilling and closely contested game between the Cavaliers and Hornets remains high.