Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Predictions November 17th 2024

The 14-0 Cleveland Cavaliers will host the 5-7 Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavaliers are favored by 10.5 points and have a moneyline of -536. The over/under line is set at 224 points.

This Eastern Conference matchup is scheduled to tip-off at 6:00 ET and can be seen on FDSO. Charlotte is currently 8th in the Eastern Conference, while Cleveland sits atop the standings.

Hornets vs. Cavaliers Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Charlotte Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers
• Where: Cleveland at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
• Date: Sunday, November 17th
• Betting Odds CLE -10.5, CHA +405 | CLE -536 O/U 224

The Hornets Can Win If…

The Hornets improved to 5-7 on the season with a 115-114 win over the Bucks on Saturday. Charlotte, who entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The total score of 229 points went over the pre-game line of 219.5.

Charlotte trailed 39-33 after the 1st quarter but tightened things up by winning the 2nd quarter 26-24. The teams played to a 27-27 draw in the 3rd, leaving the Hornets down 90-86 heading into the 4th. Charlotte outscored Milwaukee 29-24 in the final quarter to secure the win.

LaMelo Ball’s 15-point outburst in the 4th quarter helped the Hornets edge the Bucks, finishing with 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, despite shooting just 35% from the field. Miles Bridges added 19 points, while Josh Green contributed 15, with 10 of those coming in the 1st quarter.

Charlotte made 15 threes, shooting 35.7% from deep and 44.1% overall. Green hit 3 threes, connecting at a 75% rate, and Bridges also added 3, shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc.

Despite giving up 39 points in the 1st quarter, the Hornets tightened up defensively, allowing just 24 points in both the 2nd and 4th quarters to help secure the win. Charlotte gave up 114 points on 51% shooting from the field.

The Hornets allowed 15 made threes on 41% shooting but kept the Bucks off the free-throw line, where Milwaukee went 5/11. Charlotte finished with 37 defensive rebounds, 7 steals, and 4 blocks.

• In their last five road games, Charlotte has averaged 103 points per game while allowing 113. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 3-2.
• In their last five games as the betting underdog, the Hornets have a strong straight up record of 3-2. In addition, their ATS record was 4-1 in these scenarios.
• Over their last three games, the Hornets have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Cavaliers Can Win If…

The Cavaliers improved to 14-0 this season with a 144-126 win over the Bulls on Friday. Cleveland, playing at home, was favored by 10 points and covered the spread. The game’s total of 270 points went well over the pre-game line of 238.5.

Cleveland jumped out to a 49-34 lead after the 1st quarter, but the Bulls fought back in the 2nd, outscoring the Cavs 39-28. Cleveland edged Chicago 30-29 in the 3rd and took control in the 4th, holding the Bulls to 24 points while going on an 11-0 run to extend their lead from 131-121 to 142-121.

Donovan Mitchell knocked down 7 threes, shooting 53.8% from deep, and finished with 37 points, including 18 in the 4th quarter, as the Cavaliers put up 144 points in their win over the Bulls. Darius Garland added 29 points, with 15 coming in the 1st quarter, and Jarrett Allen contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 73.3% from the field.

The Cavs hit 21 threes as a team, shooting 48.8% from beyond the arc and 54.8% overall. Caris LeVert chipped in 9 of his 22 points in the 4th quarter, and Georges Niang scored 11 of his 14 points in the 3rd.

Despite a shaky defensive start, giving up 34 points in the 1st quarter and 39 in the 2nd, the Cavaliers tightened up in the 2nd half, allowing 29 points in the 3rd and 24 in the 4th. Even with the improved effort, Cleveland still allowed the Bulls to shoot 51% from the field.

The Cavaliers struggled to defend the three, with Chicago hitting 20 threes at a 47% clip. Cleveland sent the Bulls to the line 20 times, where they made 16 free throws. On the boards, the Cavaliers gave up just 3 offensive rebounds and added 11 steals and 6 blocks.

• When looking at their past ten home matchups, Cleveland has an ATS record of 7-3 while averaging 117 per game. The team went 8-2 overall in these games.
• In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Cavaliers have a straight up record of 5-0, while going 2-3 against the spread.
• In their last five games, the Cavaliers have an over/under record of 4-1 and are 3-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +10.5, the Hornets is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 224 and given that our model is projecting 235 points between the teams, we like the over.

Cavaliers Host Hornets, Eyeing Historic 15-0 Start

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of history, sitting at an unprecedented 14-0 start under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. On Sunday night, they’ll aim to extend their unbeaten streak against the visiting Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Cavaliers Riding High Under Atkinson

Atkinson’s immediate impact has propelled Cleveland to become the first NBA team in nearly a decade to open a season with 14 straight wins. The Cavaliers have thrived with a mix of explosive scoring and unselfish play, epitomized by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the backcourt.

Mitchell, averaging 24.6 points per game, notched a season-high 37 points in Cleveland’s 144-126 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday, demonstrating his ability to deliver in critical moments. Garland has complemented Mitchell seamlessly, offering both scoring and playmaking in equal measure.

“When you have two ball handlers like that, it’s an absolute luxury,” Atkinson said.

Cleveland’s closest challenges came in two nail-biters against the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this month, securing one-point wins in both contests. Still, Mitchell insists the team isn’t resting on its laurels.

“We haven’t lost, but the goal is to keep building habits,” Mitchell said. “Coach Atkinson keeps pushing us to avoid any lapses.”

Hornets Seek to Play Spoiler

The Charlotte Hornets enter Sunday’s matchup with renewed confidence after a thrilling 115-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. LaMelo Ball, averaging an impressive 29.6 points per game, led the charge with clutch free throws in the final seconds.

Ball’s ability to take over games has been crucial, with the young star topping the Hornets in scoring in 10 of their 12 games this season.

“We’re seeing LaMelo mature into one of the league’s elite players,” coach Charles Lee said.

The Hornets’ supporting cast is also stepping up. Newcomer Josh Green has emerged as a defensive disruptor, while forward Moussa Diabate posted a double-double (12 points, 14 rebounds) in Saturday’s win, showcasing his tenacity on both ends of the court.

Despite their recent success, the Hornets face a tough road test, having dropped four straight away games to fall to 1-4 on the road this season.

Key Matchups

• Donovan Mitchell vs. LaMelo Ball: Two of the league’s top guards will go head-to-head in a battle of scoring and playmaking.
• Cleveland’s Bench vs. Charlotte’s Depth: The Cavaliers’ deep rotation, featuring contributors like Caris LeVert, will challenge the Hornets’ thinner bench, especially with Tre Mann’s availability uncertain.

Injury Concerns

• Cavaliers: Cleveland enters the game with no significant injuries reported.
• Hornets: Tre Mann (lingering ailment) remains questionable for the second night of a back-to-back.

Prediction

The Cavaliers have shown no signs of slowing down, especially at home, where they’ve thrived under Atkinson’s leadership. While the Hornets bring a mix of youthful energy and individual brilliance from LaMelo Ball, Cleveland’s depth and experience should give them the edge in this contest.

Prediction: Cavaliers 125, Hornets 110