Free Pick: Cavaliers vs. Hornets Odds
Looking for Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets Free NBA predictions? NBA betting sees the Cavaliers taking on the Hornets on 1/21 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA predictions like this Cavaliers Hornets free pick.
2026 NBA Handicapping – Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets
(24-20) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets (16-27)
Date: Jan 21, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
NBA Moneyline Odds: Cavaliers +143| Hornets -160 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NBA Point Spread Betting Odds: Cavaliers -2.5 | Hornets +2.5
NBA Basketball Gambling Total: O/U: 236.5
Here’s why I’m taking the home team as per below in my Cavaliers Hornets free pick and gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Cavaliers vs. Hornets Gameday
Seven games are on tap for Wednesday, including the Cleveland Cavaliers traveling to play the Charlotte Hornets.
Cleveland last played on Monday, getting spanked 104-136 by the OKC Thunder. Five Cavs scored in double figures with Donovan Mitchell leading the way, scoring 19 points, while Jaylon Tyson delivered a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Charlotte last played on Sunday, shocking the Nuggets with a 110-87 win. Granted, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun didn’t play, but Denver has beaten teams with much more talent, so this was a surprise.
Six Hornets scored in double figures with Brandon Miller leading the way, scoring 23 points, while reserve Tidjane Salaun registered a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets Odds & Last 5
Head-to-head last season, Cleveland owned the Hornets, sweeping the four-game series. This year, they’ve played twice, each winning one contest.
The Cavaliers are 3-2 through the last five, highlighted by a baseball set sweep of the Sixers in Philly. They reside in the seventh seed with a record of 24-20. However, they are 1.5 games out of third as the East is all scrunched up other than the Pistons and Celtics.
Charlotte hasn’t won three games in a row all season and has made a habit of beating very good teams, then losing to middle and lower-tier clubs. They sit in the 12th seed with a record of 16-27.
Cleveland is favored by 2.5 points with an over-under of 236.5 points.
Cavaliers Stats
With 44 games in the pocket, Cleveland ranks 10th (116.5) on offense and 15th on defense (114.6). Additionally, the Cavs rank 11th in net rating (+1.9) and run the sixth quickest pace (102.30).
The East’s seventh-place Cavaliers average 28.6 assists (eighth) and 44.6 rebounds (tied for 14th). Cleveland scores 119.6 points per game while their opponents average 117.8 points.
Team leaders* for the Cavs are Donovan Mitchell for points (29.0) and steals (1.5), Evan Mobley for rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.9), and Darius Garland for assists (6.9).
As a team, the Cavaliers shoot 35.7% from the perimeter with five players shooting above the league average.
*minimum 10 games played
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Hornets Stats
With 43 games in the well, Charlotte ranks seventh offensively (116.9), 21st defensively (116.7), and 16th in net rating (+0.2), running a pace of 98.96, which ranks 26th overall.
The East’s 12th-place Hornets average 119.6 points per game while their opponents average 117.8 points. In terms of dimes and boards, Charlotte averages 26.7 (13th) and 45.5 (seventh), respectively.
Charlotte’s team leaders are LaMelo Ball for scoring (19.9), assists (7.6), and steals (1.2), Moussa Diabaté for rebounds (8.4), and Ryan Kalkbrenner for blocks (1.6).
Perimeter shooting is a strength for the Hornets, who have eight* players shooting 36.2% or better while the team shoots an average of 37.2%.
*minimum 10 games played
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets bottom line:
Which Cleveland team will show up? The one who pushes the pace, nails their perimeter shots, shows a semblance of defense, and is successful versus the top teams in the league. Or the one that loses to the Jazz and Bulls.
Similarly, the Hornets are a Jekyll and Hyde team that can beast against top teams and then seemingly forget how to play versus lower tier clubs.
If the clubs play to their identities, the Hornets will bring their A game, and the Cavs will need to be careful not to allow this to be a trap game.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets Basketball Betting Trends
- Cleveland is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 6 games.
- Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games against Charlotte.
- Also, Charlotte is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte’s last 5 games.
- Additionally, Charlotte is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Cavaliers Hornets Free Pick: Hornets +2.5
Here is my Cavaliers Hornets free pick.
Aside from whether the teams play to their identities, the big x-factor should be perimeter shooting. Ironically, it’s the Hornets who are the much better 3-point shooting squad.
They rank fifth in the association for their deep ball prowess, while the Cavs rank 15th. More concerning is that Cleveland ranks dead last for perimeter defense, so expect the Hornets to get the green light to fire away from behind the arc.
Over the last 15 games, the Charlotte Hornets have produced the best offense in the NBA (see Tweet of the Day below).
On paper, this should be a blowout in favor of Cleveland; however, the Hornets love to play spoiler and truly are the better perimeter squad.
To wit, take the Hornets and the points.
Today’s NBA Free Pick
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NBA Betting Tweet Of The Day
🎙️ @kirkgoldsberry: “The Charlotte Hornets have the best offense in the NBA over the last 15 games.”
“They are surging on offense. To your point, we’ve always known that LaMelo Ball had more talent in his little finger offensively than just about any other player in this… pic.twitter.com/q9VvcAPDay
— r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) January 20, 2026
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