Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction 12/22/2025 Today’s NBA Picks

The Charlotte Hornets and the Cleveland Cavaliers collide at the Rocket Arena on Monday 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 have been in decent form lately, as they’ve split their last six games. They will be hoping to bounce back here after having their two-game win streak snapped by the Pistons in a 112-86 road defeat on Saturday. Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel led the team with 19 points each, while Brandon Miller chipped in with 14 points on four of 16 shooting, but no other player scored more than eight points.

As a team, the Hornets shot a season-low 31 percent from the field and 13 of 41 from the 3-point line, but they played decent defense to keep the deficit to single digits. Things got ugly in the fourth quarter, where the Hornets got outscored by 12. 33-14. LaMelo Ball had a rough night as he shot just three of 14 from the field for his eight points while Tre Mann scored just three points on one of six shooting off the bench. 

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview 

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been in a slump as they’ve lost eight of their last 11 games overall and they will be hoping to arrest a three-game skid after getting trampled by the Bulls in a 136-125 loss on Friday. Darius Garland led the team with 35 points and eight assists on 13 of 27 shooting, Tyrese Proctor added 16 points while Nae’Qwan Tomlin chipped in with 14 points off the bench.

As a team, the Cavaliers shot 48 percent from the field and 14 of 39 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 44 points in the third quarter to overcome an early 14-point deficit. However, they couldn’t contain the Bulls and couldn’t respond after the Bulls went on a crucial 15-4 run late in the fourth quarter. 

Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win

• The Cavaliers have won each of their last 11 home games against Southeast Division opponents following a loss.
• The Hornets have lost 10 of their last 11 games at Rocket Arena when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• The Cavaliers have covered the spread in six of their last seven games on the first leg of a back-to-back against the Hornets.
• The Hornets have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games as road underdogs when playing with a rest disadvantage.

Why the Charlotte Hornets will win

• The Cavaliers have lost four of their last five games as favorites.
• The underdogs have won each of the Cavaliers’ last three games.
• The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine home games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Hornets have covered the spread in each of their last five games as road underdogs against Central Division opponents following a loss.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Hornets’ last six games as road underdogs have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of the Cavaliers’ last five night games against Southeast Division opponents have gone OVER the total points line.

Charlotte Hornets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction

The Hornets are still missing a couple players in Grant Williams and Collin Sexton, while the Cavaliers have ruled out Evan Mobley, Sam Merrill, Max Strus and they are keeping an eye on Donovan Mitchell who is day to day. The Hornets are coming into this one fresh off a blowout defeat, but they’ve come to life with some decent wins lately.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are missing a bunch of players and are mired in their worst slump of the season. I’m not surprised to see the Cavaliers as heavy favorites at home despite their recent form slump, but I think the Hornets can hang around and make this one interesting so I will take the points in this spot.

Peter Tran's Pick: Charlotte +9.5