Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Odds & Picks | 02.20.26

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction, Odds & NBA Picks | 02.20.26

The Cleveland Cavaliers (35-21) travel to the Spectrum Center on February 20, 2026, to face the Charlotte Hornets (26-30) in a pivotal Eastern Conference showdown. As the Cavaliers look to solidify their status as a top-tier contender, the Hornets are fighting to maintain their position in the Play-In race. This 7:00 PM tip-off features a high-stakes battle between Cleveland’s elite defensive structure and Charlotte’s youthful, fast-paced offensive transition.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Matchup Preview

Cleveland Cavaliers Key Stats & Trends

The Cavaliers enter this contest as one of the most balanced teams in the league. Their success is driven by the superstar performance of Donovan Mitchell, who is currently averaging 29.0 PPG and 5.9 APG. Cleveland’s defensive identity remains anchored by Evan Mobley, whose 8.8 rebounds per game and versatile rim protection make the Cavs a nightmare for opposing slashers. With a veteran presence like James Harden orchestrating the half-court, Cleveland excels at exploiting mismatches and maintaining a high rating across both ends of the floor.

Injury Report Cleveland Cavaliers

• Nae’Qwan Tomlin (Day-to-day): Tomlin has been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Nets due to left calf soreness.
• Max Strus (Out): Strus (foot) still hasn’t been cleared for contact, Spencer Davies of ClutchPoints.com reports.

Charlotte Hornets Key Stats & Trends

The Hornets rely heavily on the dynamic duo of Brandon Miller (20.6 PPG) and LaMelo Ball, who facilitates the offense with 7.4 APG and contributes 19.3 PPG. While rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner has provided stability in the paint with 6.0 RPG, Charlotte often struggles with defensive consistency. The Hornets prefer a high-tempo game, but their efficiency takes a hit when forced into a methodical half-court set, especially against elite interior defenders.

Injury Report Charlotte Hornets

• Coby White (Out): White (calf) is listed as out for Thursday’s game against the Rockets.
• Liam McNeeley (Out): McNeeley (ankle) is out for Thursday’s game against Houston.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Best Bet

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the definitive pick to win this matchup. Their superior depth and the defensive tandem of Mobley and Allen should effectively neutralize Charlotte’s paint scoring. Furthermore, we recommend taking the under on the 233.5 total points line. The absence of Max Strus for Cleveland and Coby White for Charlotte removes two significant perimeter threats, likely leading to a lower-scoring affair dominated by Cleveland’s top-five ranked defense.