Cavs vs Hornets: Preview, odds and TV channel

The Cleveland Cavaliers are celebrating today. Darius Garland was just named an All-Star Reserve last night, the first All-Star for the team since LeBron James. The emerging star at point guard looks like a player who will be a mainstay in the All-Star discussion for the next decade, and it’s extra special he will make his debut when Cleveland is hosting the All-Star Game later this month.

Garland made the team over fellow young point guard LaMelo Ball, who has an outside chance to make the team as an injury replacement. The two guards were set to clash in Charlotte tonight, but a lingering back injury for Garland means he will be a spectator as his team tries to arrest their road losing streak.

The Cavs play the Charlotte Hornets Friday night on national television. What do you need to know about who is playing and how to bet?

The Hornets are on a mini-losing streak of their own, losers of two straight and four of their last six. That hasn’t dampened their overall strong season, which has the Hornets tied for seventh and only 4.5 games back of the top-seeded Chicago Bulls this late into the season.

Ball has been exceptional in his sophomore campaign, while Miles Bridges is having a breakout year himself. Role players such as Kelly Oubre Jr., Cody Martin and Jalen McDaniels have thrived in their roles. This isn’t a team with the postseason aspirations of the Cavs, not yet, but they are dangerous and on an upward trajectory to join Cleveland in the top ranks of the East soon.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets: Odds, spread, over/under

The Cleveland Cavaliers (31-21) will visit the Charlotte Hornets (28-24) tonight. According to our partners over at WynnBet, the Hornets are favored by 5.0 points at home. The over/under point total is 218 points.

The Cavs have played three games in the past five days, with a pair of trip-up losses on the road to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The Hornets also played on Wednesday, losing in Boston to the Celtics despite LaMelo Ball’s career-high 38 points, but before that had two days off and therefore come into tonight’s contest the better-rested squad.

Cavs vs Hornets: Projected starting lineups, injury report

Hornets starters: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, Mason Plumlee

Cavs starters: Brandon Goodwin, Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

The Hornets’ key injuries: Jalen McDaniels (out, ankle); Gordon Hayward (questionable, conditioning)

The Cavaliers’ key injuries: Collin Sexton (out for season, knee); Ricky Rubio (out for season, knee); Lauri Markkanen (out, high ankle sprain); Darius Garland (out, back)

Cavs vs Hornets: Prediction

The Cavs’ offense tends to go as Darius Garland goes; that’s the most important reason he made the All-Star Team. They have been struggling the past few games with Garland limited or sidelined, including in their loss Wednesday to the Houston Rockets. Evan Mobley has stepped up in Garland’s absence and played very well, but he isn’t the play creator for others that Garland is.

Neither is Brandon Goodwin or, at this point in his career, Rajon Rondo. Both are great options as backups but neither is capable of shouldering a full-time starting load. The Cavs have shown resiliency and adaptability in weathering the losses of Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio, but add Garland to the mix and it’s too much.

LaMelo Ball is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now, and with Terry Rozier at his side form a potent combination that will be difficult to slow down. The Cavs will pack the paint and force them to score outside, but the Hornets will key on transition opportunities to manufacture easy points before the towers can get set inside.

With Garland, the Cavs would likely be slight favorites, but without him, they probably cannot keep up with the high-flying Hornets’ attack. This will be a close game that, similar to the losses in Detroit on Sunday and Houston on Wednesday, gets away from them late.

Prediction: Charlotte 108, Cleveland 100

The Bet: Charlotte (-5.0), UNDER

Cavs vs Hornets: Where to Watch

This exciting showdown between two of the league’s rising stars at point guard — and two of the East’s top six teams — was high-profile enough to get flexed onto national television…a decision made before Garland was ruled out due to his back injury. NBA TV will carry the contest at 7:00pm ET. Local fans can still tune in on Bally Sports Ohio, or on Bally Sports Southeast.

Cleveland Cavaliers Upcoming Schedule

The next week holds just three games for the Cavs, all against teams significantly under .500. The play the injury-riddled Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs at home, then next Friday zip over to Indiana for a rematch with the Pacers.

Then the final days before the All-Star Break feature a pair of difficult contests. The Cavs’ first of four meetings with the Philadelphia 76ers takes place next Saturday in the City of Brotherly Love, and the following Tuesday they go to Atlanta to face the scorching Hawks.