14-0, a record that only five teams in the league have managed to achieve in the regular season. As the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to rack up victories, the 28 other teams gaze at them with envy. Several have come close to beating them to no avail. Now, the Charlotte Hornets are up next to test their sting.
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The realization that they would be facing the Cavaliers hit LaMelo Ball differently after their win against the Bucks. However, he made it clear that they would carry the same confidence to Ohio as they sought their sixth victory, something none of the other teams have been able to achieve against the Cavaliers. That confidence will certainly be put to the test in front of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd. However, this could be the turning point for the Cavs, as the injuries could take a toll on them.
Cavaliers vs Hornets: Injury Report
- Cleveland Cavaliers
Both teams have several players sidelined, but the Cavaliers’ loss is certainly more significant, as they’ll be without their star, Donovan Mitchell. The combo guard had been playing brilliantly until Friday night’s game against the Bulls, but after appearing in all 14 games, the franchise decided to give him a well-deserved break.
Meanwhile, the Cavs listed Evan Mobley as questionable after he missed the previous game due to illness. Max Strus and Sam Merrill are both unavailable due to ankle injuries, and Emoni Bates has yet to recover from his torn meniscus surgery.
- Charlotte Hornets
On the other hand, the Hornets have a shorter injury report, with DaQuan Jeffries and Nick Richards both out due to a fractured right hand and right rib cartilage, respectively. Mark Williams will reportedly be under observation as his presence is still questionable. Despite Ball‘s hot take on the meet-up, it remains uncertain whether he will be added to the final roster. Miles Bridges and Tre Mann are also doubtful.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the teams’ depth charts to get a clearer picture of which players can be expected to take the court in Sunday evening’s game.
Depth Chart:
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Position | Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Point Guard | Darius Garland | Ty Jerome | Donovan Mitchell (O) | Caris LeVert |
| Shooting Guard | Donovan Mitchell (O) | Caris LeVert | Sam Merrill (O) | Isaac Okoro |
| Small Forward | Isaac Okoro | Georges Niang | Dean Wade | Jaylon Tyson |
| Power Forward | Evan Mobley (DD) | Dean Wade | Georges Niang | Isaac Okoro |
| Center | Jarrett Allen | Evan Mobley (DD) | Tristan Thompson | Dean Wade |
Charlotte Hornets
| Position | Starter | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Point Guard | LaMelo Ball (DD) | Tre Mann (DD) | Vasilije Micic | Cody Martin |
| Shooting Guard | Brandon Miller | Seth Curry | Tre Mann DD | Nick Smith Jr. |
| Small Forward | Josh Green | Cody Martin | Brandon Miller | Tidjane Salaun |
| Power Forward | Miles Bridges (DD) | Tidjane Salaun | Grant Williams | Josh Green |
| Center | Grant Williams | Moussa Diabate | Taj Gibson | Mark Williams (O) |
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets Regular Season Head-to-Head and more
The two sides have met 126 times overall in the regular season games with the Cavaliers holding the edge at 75 wins, while the Hornets are not far behind with their 51 victories. Even when it comes to their previous two season matchups, the battles have been closely contested, with the current Eastern Conference toppers holding a 4-3 advantage.
This season has been a different story for the Cavaliers. Kenny Atkinson’s coaching strategies have paid off, ultimately strengthening their depth. Their current focus is taking one step at a time, as point guard Darius Garland explained.
“We take each game one at a time and play together.” However, he also emphasized that they have a clear goal in mind as they move forward. “So we need to keep that aggressive and confident mindset. We may not win every game, but if we play this way, I think we’ll always have a chance. Let’s stick together and strive to be great,” he added.
Their strong mindset, phenomenal performance, and effective coaching are what have made the Cavaliers unbeatable so far on this journey. But will they be able to extend their streak today? Let’s tune in at 6:00 PM ET to find out.