Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction and Betting Tips | Jan. 5, 2025

The Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers matchup is one of the six games scheduled for Sunday. The two Eastern Conference teams had contrasting starts to the season. Cleveland is first with a 30-4 record, while Charlotte is 14th with a 7-26 record.

The two teams have met 128 times in the regular season, with Cleveland holding a 77-51 lead. This will be their third meeting this season. The Cavs won both of the previous games, with the most recent win coming on Dec. 7. Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 41 points in the 116-102 win, while Brandon Miller had 25 points for Charlotte.

Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers game details and odds

The Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers game is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 5, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The matchup will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network - Ohio and FanDuel Sports Network - Southeast - Charlotte. Fans can also stream it live on NBA League Pass and FuboTV.

Moneyline: Hornets (+750) vs. Cavaliers (-1200)

Spread: Hornets (+15) vs. Cavaliers (-15)

Total (O/U): Hornets -110 (o223) vs. Cavaliers -110 (u223)

Editor's note: The odds could change close to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers preview

The Hornets have the longest active losing streak in the NBA at nine games. While it is common knowledge that they have struggled, they have been particularly bad on the road with a 2-13 record.

Charlotte last played the Detroit Pistons on Friday and lost 98-94. Miles Bridges led the team in scoring with 20 points, while Mark Williams had 18 points. While LaMelo Ball is expected to play Sunday, it is unlikely to tilt the contest in Charlotte’s favor against the Cavaliers.

While Charlotte has lost nine straight, Cleveland has won nine games on the trot. The Cavs have the best record in the league and have been consistently great throughout the season, particularly their offense. They are 17-1 at home. They are coming off of a 134-122 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Evan Mobley had a double-double of 34 points and 10 rebounds. All Cleveland starters scored in double digits. Caris LeVert and Georges Niang scored 17 and 15 points, respectively, off the bench as well.

Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers betting props

LaMelo Ball’s points total is set at 26.5. As Ball is returning from an injury layoff, expect him to be a bit rusty. Bet on the under.

Evan Mobley’s points total is set at 19.5. He has scored 20 or more in four of the past games and should get past the mark against Charlotte as well.

Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers prediction

The oddsmakers heavily favor the Cavs to get a win at home and rightly so. Cleveland should cover the spread for a blowout win. This should be a high-scoring game with the team total going past 223 points.