Hornets vs. Cavaliers NBA expert prediction and odds for Monday, March 25 (Back Charlotte as an underdog)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are sinking at the wrong time having lost three straight and 10 of their last 15 overall going into the final stretch of the regular season. Injuries have hampered Cleveland’s lineup, and the Cavaliers hold just a half-game lead over the Knicks for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Can Cleveland right the ship? Thankfully, the Cavaliers have two matchups with the lowly Charlotte Hornets over the next three days to hopefully make up some ground. Charlotte is on a four-game losing streak and will try to hang in familiar territory as a double-digit underdog Monday night at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Here’s the betting breakdown of the matchup with a best bet.
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Hornets vs. Cavaliers odds, spread and total
Hornets vs. Cavaliers how to watch
- Date: Monday, March 25
- Game time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
- How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
- Hornets record: 17-53
- Cavaliers record: 43-28
Hornets vs. Cavaliers injury report
Charlotte Hornets
- No injuries to report
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Ty Jerome (ankle): out
- Max Strus (knee): out
- Dean Wade (knee): out
Hornets vs. Cavaliers key players to watch
Charlotte Hornets
Miles Bridges: Bridges continues to pour in points in a lost season for the Hornets, who have their sights set on snagging a difference-maker this summer in the NBA Draft. Bridges is averaging 21.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season and put up 27 on 11-of-19 shooting with four 3-pointers in Saturday’s blowout loss in Atlanta.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley: Returning from injury on Sunday after nearly three weeks on the sideline, Mobley was the only Cavalier in double figures in a lopsided loss to the Heat, finishing with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting.
Hornets vs. Cavaliers prediction and pick
Cleveland’s shorthanded rotation hasn’t scored more than 108 points in five consecutive games as the lack of firepower in the Cavaliers’ lineup has highlighted this recent poor stretch of play. The Cavaliers were held under triple digits in back-to-back road losses, but those were to Minnesota and Miami, two top-10 defenses in the NBA in terms of net ranking.
The Cavaliers get a reprieve in Monday’s tilt against Charlotte, which dubiously boasts one of the league’s worst defenses (No. 28 in net ranking) and allows opponents to shoot 49.3% from the field (No. 27 in the league). Still, with injuries taking a toll on the Cavaliers, it’s not a great position to lay double figures when the offensive output is such a question mark. Charlotte’s defense has been bad, but is still No. 20 in scoring.
Cleveland’s defense couldn’t buy a stop against a sub-par Miami offense on Sunday (the Heat shot 51.8% from the field) and now travel home on the second half of a back-to-back to face a Charlotte offense that still has enough scoring behind Bridges and Brandon Miller to hang around as a double-digit underdog. Back the Hornets on the road.
Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.