Halftime Report
Fortunes may be turning around for the Cavaliers after losing three in a row. They have a bit of a cushion as they currently lead the Hornets 51-37. The Cavaliers took a big hit to their ego last Sunday, so a win here would be a pleasant pick-me-up.
The Cavaliers came into the matchup with some extra motivation after the defeat they were dealt the last time these two teams faced off. We'll see if they're able to flip the script or if it'll just be more of the same.
Who's Playing
Charlotte Hornets @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Current Records: Charlotte 17-53, Cleveland 43-28
How To Watch
- When: Monday, March 25, 2024 at 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse -- Cleveland, Ohio
- TV: Bally Sports SE Charlotte
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket Cost: $19.02
What to Know
The Cavaliers will be playing the full four quarters on Monday, but they're expected to have things wrapped up well before that. Having just played yesterday, they will get right back to it and host the Charlotte Hornets at 7:00 p.m. ET on March 25th at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Both teams have had a bumpy ride up to this point with three consecutive losses for the Cavaliers and four for the Hornets.
The defenses reigned supreme when the Cavaliers and the Heat played on Sunday, rewarding bettors who took the risk on the low 202.5-point over/under. Cleveland was completely outmatched by the Heat on the road and fell 121-84. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest points the Cavaliers have scored all season.
Meanwhile, the Hornets traveled a rocky road last season, and unfortunately for them the road hasn't gotten any smoother. There's no need to mince words: Charlotte lost to the Hawks on Saturday, and the Hornets lost bad. The score wound up at 132-91. The Hornets were down 99-74 at the end of the third quarter, and things only got worse from there.
Cleveland has been struggling recently as they've lost four of their last five matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 43-28 record this season. As for Charlotte, they dropped their record down to 17-53 with that loss, which was their third straight on the road.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: The Cavaliers haven't given up the ball easily this season, having only averaged 12.7 turnovers per game. However, it's not like the Hornets struggle in that department as they've been averaging only 13.1 turnovers per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
The Cavaliers came up short against the Hornets when the teams last played back in April of 2023, falling 106-95. Can the Cavaliers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Odds
Cleveland is a big 12-point favorite against Charlotte, according to the latest NBA odds.
The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Cavaliers as a 11.5-point favorite.
The oddsmakers are predicting a defensive showdown and set the over/under low at 205.5 points.
See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now.
Series History
Cleveland has won 6 out of their last 10 games against Charlotte.
- Apr 09, 2023 - Charlotte 106 vs. Cleveland 95
- Mar 14, 2023 - Cleveland 120 vs. Charlotte 104
- Mar 12, 2023 - Cleveland 114 vs. Charlotte 108
- Nov 18, 2022 - Cleveland 132 vs. Charlotte 122
- Mar 02, 2022 - Charlotte 119 vs. Cleveland 98
- Feb 04, 2022 - Cleveland 102 vs. Charlotte 101
- Nov 01, 2021 - Cleveland 113 vs. Charlotte 110
- Oct 22, 2021 - Charlotte 123 vs. Cleveland 112
- Apr 23, 2021 - Charlotte 108 vs. Cleveland 102
- Apr 14, 2021 - Cleveland 103 vs. Charlotte 90
