The Cleveland Cavaliers face the Charlotte Hornets in an Eastern Conference matchup on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. Cleveland enters as a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 237.5 points, despite recent injuries sidelining key players. A computer model projects a high-scoring affair led by Donovan Mitchell and LaMelo Ball.
The Charlotte Hornets host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday evening, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center. This game marks the start of a seven-game NBA slate, highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader that also features the Thunder versus the Bucks.
The Hornets sit at 16-27 overall but return from a solid 3-2 road trip through the West, including impressive victories over the Lakers and Nuggets. Their recent offensive surge has seen four of their past five games exceed the total points line. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are 24-20 after a lopsided 136-104 loss to the Thunder on Monday. Cleveland will be without guard Darius Garland due to a toe injury and Sam Merrill with a hand issue, potentially opening up more opportunities for other starters.
Betting lines list the Cavaliers as 3-point favorites on the road, with a money line of -147 for Cleveland and +124 for Charlotte. The over/under is set at 237.5 points. SportsLine's projection model, which has simulated every NBA game 10,000 times and delivered strong returns on top-rated picks, leans toward the over. It forecasts the total clearing in 61% of simulations, with 10 players expected to reach double figures in scoring. Donovan Mitchell is projected to lead the Cavaliers, while LaMelo Ball tops the Hornets' output.
One highlighted player prop targets Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen to score over 3.5 points in the first quarter at -125 odds. Allen has cleared this mark in 13 of his last 14 games against Charlotte and in each of his past five outings this season. He typically logs at least eight minutes early and holds a significant size advantage over Charlotte's Moussa Diabate, making this a reliable spot amid Garland's absence.
Fans can stream the game on Fubo. The model also identifies a strong side for the spread, hitting over 50% of the time in simulations.
