Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets prediction: Short-handed Hornets face Cleveland without Miller, Schröder or Knueppel
Charlotte's offense ranked last in the league even at full strength, and the shooters it has left face a Cavaliers team that punishes a porous perimeter defense.
Charlotte Hornets covered the closing spread (Cleveland Cavaliers -8.5). The game went over the closing total of 215.5.
| Spread | Cleveland Cavaliers -8.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 215 |
- Cleveland should control this through its shooting, while a depleted Charlotte attack leans on threes it rarely makes and fights for second chances on the glass.
- Cleveland's shooters against Charlotte's perimeter defense, which allows 40.8% from three, worst in the league.
- Cleveland is favored by 9 with a total of 215, unchanged since our feed first saw the game; Charlotte plays at the league's slowest pace.
Charlotte runs out of bodies
Charlotte's offense was already the worst in the league before the weekend. Then Brandon Miller, Dennis Schröder and Kon Knueppel all went down within days, and the Hornets carry a six-game losing streak into Monday night against Cleveland.
The Hornets score 97.9 points per 100 possessions, 30th of 30. Their effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) of 46.7 also ranks last. Miller is listed out with right groin soreness after leaving Friday's 119-80 home loss to Boston in the second quarter. Charles Lee said more information would come Monday, and no update had surfaced by Monday morning.
The rest of the list is long. Schröder has a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in two weeks. Knueppel re-aggravated his hamstring in his season debut and will be reevaluated in four. Grant Williams is out, and Moussa Diabaté is questionable with a quadriceps problem that held him to six minutes against Boston. Miller's absence removes 20.6 points a night, though he has shot just 26.0% from three. Naz Reid and Coby White should carry more of the offense, and Tidjane Salaun or Sion James could step into the starting lineup.
Threes Charlotte can't stop
Charlotte takes threes on 51.4% of its shots, the highest rate in the league. It makes only 28.8% of them, 29th. Grayson Allen is the exception: he has hit 46.4% from deep and gives the Hornets their one reliable spacer.
The bigger problem is at the other end. Opponents shoot 40.8% from three against Charlotte, worst in the NBA. Cleveland arrives ready to take advantage, hitting 36.4% from three, 9th in the league. Evan Mobley has hit 47.7% from deep while averaging 18.4 points, and Donovan Mitchell leads the team at 24.0 points a game. James Harden is the cold spot. He is shooting 36.6% from the field, so Cleveland's volume comes mostly from the other two.
Second chances, wasted chances
Charlotte's one real strength is rebounding. The Hornets grab 31.8% of their own misses (offensive rebound rate), 4th in the league. Cleveland ranks 24th at the same stat, so second-chance points are where Charlotte can stay close.
That edge depends on bodies Cleveland may not have either. Jarrett Allen is questionable with a right knee contusion after missing both games of the Friday-Saturday back-to-back, and Kenny Atkinson may keep Mobley at center. Diabaté, Charlotte's top rebounder at 9.1 a game, is also questionable.
Ball security is the Hornets' other weakness. They turn it over on 19.4% of possessions (turnover rate), last in the league. Cleveland doesn't force many, ranking 29th in forced turnover rate, so the Cavaliers are less likely to punish those mistakes than most opponents.
Where the line sits
Cleveland is a 9-point favorite and the total is 215, with neither number moving since our feed first logged the game Monday morning. Charlotte plays at the slowest pace in the league, 98.4 possessions per game, and seven of its 10 games have gone under. Both teams are 3-7 against the spread. Cleveland is only 1-3 on the road and opens a three-game trip here after playing Friday and Saturday.
The Cavaliers won both visits to Charlotte last season, 94-87 in January and 118-113 in February.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets line movement and odds
| Book | Cavaliers ML | Hornets ML | Cavaliers spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | -325 | +260 | -8.5 (-102) | o215.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | -335 | +255 | -8.5 (-113) | o216.5 (-114) |
| DraftKings | -324 | +261 | -8.5 (-108) | o215.5 (-110) |
| ESPN BET | -320 | +260 | -8.5 (-105) | o215.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | -330 | +260 | -8.5 (-105) | o215.5 (-110) |
| FanDuel | -320 | +260 | -8.5 (-106) | o215.5 (-115) |
| Hard Rock Bet | -350 | +275 | -8.5 (-105) | o215.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | -350 | +275 | -8 (-115) | o215 (-115) |
Key players
- Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers): Averaging 24.0 points on 38.7% three-point shooting this season.
- Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers): Scoring 18.4 points a game and hitting 47.7% of his threes this season.
- James Harden (Cleveland Cavaliers): Handing out 5.8 assists a game but shooting 36.6% from the field this season.
- Naz Reid (Charlotte Hornets): Averaging 16.6 points and 8.1 rebounds this season, with more shots coming his way.
- Grayson Allen (Charlotte Hornets): Scoring 14.1 points a game on 46.4% three-point shooting this season.
- Moussa Diabaté (Charlotte Hornets): Pulling down 9.1 rebounds a game this season but questionable with a quadriceps injury.
Numbers that matter
| Charlotte offensive efficiency | 97.9 | Points per 100 possessions, 30th of 30, and that was before Miller and Schröder went out. |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent 3-point % vs. Charlotte | 40.8% | The worst mark in the league, facing a Cleveland team that ranks 9th in three-point shooting. |
| Charlotte offensive rebound % | 31.8% | 4th in the league and the Hornets' clearest edge, with Cleveland ranking 24th. |
| Charlotte turnover rate | 19.4% | Last in the league, though Cleveland ranks 29th at forcing turnovers. |
| Spread | -9 | Cleveland's number has not moved since our feed first saw the game. |
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets: quick answers
What was the final score of Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets?
Cleveland Cavaliers 112, Charlotte Hornets 124 (final). Charlotte Hornets covered the closing spread (Cleveland Cavaliers -8.5). The game went over the closing total of 215.5.
Who is favored in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets?
Cleveland Cavaliers is favored by 8.5 points (Cleveland Cavaliers -8.5).
What is the over/under for Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets?
The total is 215 points.
When is Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets?
Monday, November 9, 2026 at 7:10 PM ET.
Has the line moved for Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets?
Yes: Cleveland Cavaliers opened -8 and is now -8.5, and the total moved from 216 to 215.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).