The Charlotte Hornets (9-19) and Cleveland Cavaliers (15-14) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will broadcast live on Peacock.
The Cavaliers are 9.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Cavaliers -9.5), with the over/under set at 238.5 total points. Cleveland is a -375 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Charlotte is +310 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Hornets vs. Cavaliers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, December 22.
My Hornets vs Cavaliers Prediction
- Hornets vs Cavaliers picks: Hornets +9.5 (-110), Jaylon Tyson Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds (-120)
My Hornets vs Cavaliers best bets are Charlotte to cover the spread and Jaylon Tyson over 19.5 points & rebounds, with the best price tags currently available at DraftKings. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Hornets vs Cavaliers Odds
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9.5 -115 | 238.5 -110o / -110u | +310 |
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9.5 -105 | 238.5 -110o / -110u | -375 |
Hornets vs Cavaliers NBA Preview
The Cleveland Cavaliers are spiraling — more on that in today’s episode of the Buckets podcast. And the Charlotte Hornets are finally (mostly) healthy lately.
The Cavs have been uneasy for over a month. Since their 10-5 start to the year, they’ve gone 5-9, including what is currently a three-game losing streak, their second in the last month.
Last season, the Cavs won their first 15 games and didn’t lose three straight until late January. This year, here are the cliff notes: Darius Garland is a shell of what he was as he continues to deal with the lingering effects of his toe injury.
Cleveland has also battled several other injuries, including the current absence of Evan Mobley, who is dealing with a calf strain and might not be back until we flip the calendar.
On top of that, Cleveland just lost to Charlotte at home on December 14 and has also dropped two straight in a home-and-home with the Bulls.
The Hornets are 5-4 when Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball are healthy.
Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges have been available every game so far this season, but immediately losing Miller two games into the year for a month — as opposed to opening night last season — was already a red flag, compounded by Ball’s ongoing ankle issues.
Cleveland is 15-14 but a league-worst 8-21 against the spread this season, and just 1-4 ATS with a rest advantage.
The Hornets, even while short-handed for much of the year, are 5-1 ATS with a rest advantage; only the 76ers are better.
Cleveland is just 4-12 ATS as a home favorite, while the Hornets are 6-6 ATS as a road underdog and 6-3 ATS with both LaMelo and Miller in the lineup.
As you can tell, the injury report for this game is loaded.
Hornets: Ball (wrist) is probable. Starting center Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) is questionable. Grant Williams (ACL recovery) and Collin Sexton (quad) are expected to sit again.
Cavs: Donovan Mitchell (illness), Sam Merrill (hand) and Craig Porter Jr. (illness) are probable. Evan Mobley (calf strain), Max Strus (foot) and Larry Nance Jr. (calf) are out.
Hornets vs Cavaliers Prediction, Betting Analysis
I have two plays in this one. The first play is Hornets +9.5.
I don’t take a ton of sides, but for all the reasons laid out earlier, I like Charlotte to keep this close. They’re roughly +300 to win outright as of this writing, which I might nibble on as well, just in case.
The prop I’m on is Jaylon Tyson over 19.5 points + rebounds. He went under last game, even with Mitchell out, but he hasn’t gone under in two straight since emerging over the last month.
He’s gone over this number in nine of his last 13 games and, as mentioned multiple times recently, Tyson over PR is maybe my most-played prop of the season — or at least over the last three to four weeks.
He plays big minutes, can shoot, crashes the glass, and they’ll need him.
I like this even more if Kalkbrenner sits, because that likely means Mason Plumlee minutes (though I do love Moussa Diabaté).
Hornets vs Cavaliers Best Bets
- Hornets +9.5 (-110)
- Jaylon Tyson Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds (-120)
Spread
My Cavaliers vs Hornets betting prediction is on Charlotte to cover the spread at +9.5.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm steering clear of the total as well.
