Cavaliers vs Hornets prediction NBA · Saturday, January 2
At a glance
The Charlotte Hornets (3-2) host the Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) on Saturday, January 2 at 1:00 PM ET at Spectrum Center in NBA action. The Basketlog model gives the Cavaliers a 59% chance to win and projects a 115-112 score (Cavaliers – Hornets), about 227 total points. This season, the Hornets are 2-1 at home and the Cavaliers are 0-1 on the road. Since the start of the season: 3-2 for the Hornets and 3-1 for the Cavaliers (current streaks: Hornets L1, Cavaliers W3). A close game (margin of 5 points or fewer) happens in only 30% of cases according to the model. Reported injuries: Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Coby White (Hornets), Grant Williams (Hornets) and Kylan Boswell (Hornets). Prediction confidence: low.
The analysis Model
Slight edge to the Cavaliers, but the Hornets have what it takes to keep it close. The model projects Hornets 112 – 115 Cavaliers, a margin of about 2.9 points in favor of the Cavaliers and a total around 227 points. Expect a game at a standard NBA pace. The Hornets will be without Kon Knueppel or Coby White (and 2 others). Early season: the numbers still lean heavily on last season, so confidence stays cautious.
- The Hornets need to win the pace battle to stay in the game.
- The Cavaliers' offense (119.6 pts/game) is the more productive of the two.
- The Hornets' defense allows clearly fewer points (110.3 pts/game).
What tips the balance
Scenarios
Stat comparison Current season
CLECHA
Players to watch
Cavaliers
Donovan MitchellG · #4524.8pts / game
James HardenG · #16.8assists
Evan MobleyC · #410.0reboundsHornets
Brandon MillerF · #2425.6pts / game
Dennis SchroderG · #174.8assists
Moussa DiabateF · #149.4reboundsRecent form
CLE
132-116L
114-106W
125-121W
127-125 OTW
121-111CHA110-103L
128-81W
115-110W110-103L
97-89Head-to-head
3 meetings scheduled this season.
CLE
Second opinion
Our model compared with ESPN's public model (BPI). When they agree, the prediction is more solid.
✓ Both models pick the same favorite.
Team comparison
| CLE | CHA | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1 | Record | 3-2 |
| 119.6 | Points scored / game | 111.6 |
| 116.0 | Points allowed / game | 110.3 |
| +3.0 | Adjusted margin / game | +1.1 |
| W3 | Current streak | L1 |
| 3-1 | Last 10 games | 3-2 |
| 0-1 road | Home / road record | 2-1 home |
| 52-30 (+4.1) | Last season | 44-38 (+4.8) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Cavaliers
Injury report Hornets
Probabilities estimated by the Basketlog model from available public data; early in the season they rely heavily on last season. They are neither a certainty nor betting advice.