| MATCHUP | Charlotte Hornets | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 7-18 | 15-11 |
| Spread | +12.5 -118 | -12.5 -102 |
| Moneyline | +440 | -600 |
| Total | Over 232.5 (-112) | Under 232.5 (-108) |
| Where | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH | |
| When | Sunday, December 14, 2025 | |
| Time | 03:30 PM EST | |
| TV | FanDuel SN OH | |
The Charlotte Hornets invade the Rocket Arena to do battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. Here’s a Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction. This article will include a Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Pick.
Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
The Charlotte Hornets looked like they were building towards something with a couple nice wins at the end of November, but they’ve gone cold again with four losses in their last five games. They will be hoping to bounce back after falling just short to the Bulls in a 129-126 loss on Friday. Kon Knueppel led the team with 33 points and nine assists on 12 of 21 shooting, Miles Bridges added 32 points with seven assists on 13 of 20 shooting while Brandon Miller chipped in with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.
As a team, the Hornets shot a healthy 53 percent from the field and 16 of 37 from the 3-point line as they poured in 32 points in the second quarter to lead by as many as 13 points. However, they couldn’t hold off the Bulls who exploded for 40 points in the fourth quarter to snatch the game away at the end.
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been at their best as they’ve lost five of their last eight games overall. But they will be hoping to build some momentum after surviving a scare against the lowly Wizards in a 130-126 road win on Friday. Donovan Mitchell has been in sensational form for the Cavaliers and he led the way again with 48 points on 17 of 31 shooting, Evan Mobley added 23 points with 13 rebounds and six assists while Darius Garland chipped in with 18 points and six assists.
As a team, the Cavaliers shot just 42 percent from the field and 15 of 53 from the 3-point line as they squandered an early 11-point lead. They looked to be in trouble when they fell behind by 17 points, but they remained calm and poured in 45 points in the fourth quarter to run down the Wizards and escape with the narrow road win.
Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win
- The Hornets have lost 13 of their last 14 road games against Eastern Conference opponents that held a winning record.
- The Cavaliers have won each of their last six games against Southeast Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games against Central Division opponents.
Why the Charlotte Hornets will win
- The Cavaliers have lost three of their last four games as favorites following a road win.
- The road team has won five of the Cavaliers’ last six games.
- The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 12 games at Rocket Arena following a road win.
- The Hornets have covered the spread in six of their last seven games against Central Division opponents that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Cavaliers’ last nine games at Rocket Arena have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Seven of the Hornets’ last eight games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total points line.
Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
The Hornets are still missing a bunch of players with LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, Grant Williams and Pat Connaughton all out, while the Cavaliers have ruled out Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley once again. The Hornets were able to get big games out of Knueppel and Bridges in their last game, but it still wasn’t enough to get past a slumping Bulls team.
So, it’s no surprise that they are heavy road underdogs in this matchup. The Cavaliers are banged up at the moment and they are clearly not playing their best basketball, as we saw from their unconvincing win over the Wizards. I think the Cavaliers get the win at home, but I like the Hornets to hang around and get the backdoor cover in the end.