Hornets vs Cavaliers prediction NBA · Sunday, April 4
At a glance
The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) host the Charlotte Hornets (3-2) on Sunday, April 4 at 3:00 PM ET at Rocket Arena in NBA action. The Basketlog model gives the Cavaliers a 73% chance to win and projects a 110-117 score (Hornets – Cavaliers), about 227 total points. This season, the Cavaliers are 3-0 at home and the Hornets are 1-1 on the road. Since the start of the season: 3-1 for the Cavaliers and 3-2 for the Hornets (current streaks: Cavaliers W3, Hornets L1). A close game (margin of 5 points or fewer) happens in only 26% of cases according to the model. Reported injuries: Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Coby White (Hornets), Grant Williams (Hornets) and Kylan Boswell (Hornets). Prediction confidence: medium.
The analysis Model
The Cavaliers start with a clear edge. The model projects Cavaliers 117 – 110 Hornets, a margin of about 7.5 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
CHACLE
Players to watch
Hornets
Brandon MillerF · #2425.6pts / game
Dennis SchroderG · #174.8assists
Moussa DiabateF · #149.4reboundsCavaliers
Donovan MitchellG · #4524.8pts / game
James HardenG · #16.8assists
Evan MobleyC · #410.0reboundsRecent form
CHA
110-103L
128-81W
115-110W
110-103L
97-89CLE
132-116L
114-106W125-121W
127-125 OTW121-111Head-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
| CHA | CLE | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-2 | Record | 3-1 |
| 111.6 | Points scored / game | 119.6 |
| 110.3 | Points allowed / game | 116.0 |
| +1.1 | Adjusted margin / game | +3.0 |
| L1 | Current streak | W3 |
| 3-2 | Last 10 games | 3-1 |
| 1-1 road | Home / road record | 3-0 home |
| 44-38 (+4.8) | Last season | 52-30 (+4.1) |
| No | Played yesterday | No |
Injury report Hornets
Injury report Cavaliers
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.