Our ratings lean toward the Cavaliers at home against the Hornets on Sunday, April 4, at about 67%. That is a real edge, but the Hornets are far from out of it.
How the Win Meter reads
The Win Meter reads the Cavaliers 67%, with a projected score of Charlotte Hornets 112, Cleveland Cavaliers 117. The rating gap is 19 points in favor of the Cavaliers, and home court and rest add about 101 rating points for the Cavaliers on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 33 times in 100 games like this, the Hornets would win.
Recent form
The Hornets are 3-1 this season and 3-2 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.8. The Cavaliers are 2-1 this season and 2-3 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -10.4.
The Hornets were beaten 128-81 at home by ATL not long ago.
The Cavaliers were beaten 130-93 at home by NYK not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Hornets score 104 a game and allow 111. The Cavaliers score 119.3 and allow 120. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 112 for the Hornets and 115.2 for the Cavaliers, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Cavaliers have been tough to score on, which should slow the Hornets.
The Cavaliers should find points against the Hornets' defense, which has been giving up 111.
Injuries to watch
Out: Coby White (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Kon Knueppel (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, Grant Williams (CHA), expected back Oct 31, 2026, and Kylan Boswell (CHA), expected back Nov 2, 2026.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Cavaliers lead 7-1, with the Cavaliers outscoring the Hornets by an average of 6.3 points per game. The last meeting was CLE 118, CHA 113.