**What:** Charlotte Hornets (7-18) at Cleveland Cavaliers (15-11)
**When:** 3:30pm Eastern
**Where:** Rocket Arena; Cleveland, OH
**How to watch:** FanDuel Sports Network, NBA League Pass
**Game Lines:** Hornets +10.5, Hornets money line +390, O/U 234.5
Last year, this wouldn’t have been a fair fight. It probably isn’t one this year either, but the teams are definitely closer to one another than they were a year ago. The Cavs have been replaced as the surprise atop the East by the Pistons and have settled into a spot in the middle of the playoff race.
Injuries are a big reason for that. The Cavs have had a hard time getting all of their key guys on the floor at the same time. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen have both been in and out of the lineup and missed over half the season. Evan Mobley had been the most durable, but he’s now out with the calf strain that’s been sweeping through the NBA. He leaves just in time for Allen to return.
Even with most of their players, the Cavs are coming off a game where they needed some Donovan Mitchell heroics to come from behind to beat the Wizards. They’re beatable this season.
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