What To Expect In Second Cleveland Cavaliers-Charlotte Hornets Matchup

Cleveland looks to sweep back-to-back games against Charlotte with a victory tonight.

Two nights ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned their 44th win of the season in a 115-92 home victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Tonight, the two teams will square off once again, this time in Charlotte.

Here are four things to expect in the second matchup between the Cavaliers and Hornets this regular season.

1. Cavaliers Moving the Ball Well

In the first meeting between Cleveland and Charlotte two nights ago, the Wine and Gold dished out a season-high 41 assists. These were their most assists in a regular-season or postseason game since April 9, 2014.

The Cavaliers rank ninth in the NBA with an average of 27.8 assists per game.

2. Strus Back On the Floor

According to the NBA’s 6:30 p.m. Injury Report, Cleveland swingman Max Strus is available for tonight’s game. He will be playing on a minute restriction, per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

The 27-year-old had missed the Wine and Gold’s previous 12 games due to a right knee strain.

Dec 18, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) shoots in the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

3. A Big Bridges Game

Two nights ago, the Cavaliers’ defense held Hornets forward Miles Bridges to just 15 points on 5-for-14 (35.7%) shooting from the field and 1-for-5 (20%) shooting from three-point range.

The 26-year-old is averaging 21.2 points per game this season, shooting 45.9% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc.

4. A Cleveland Advantage On the Boards

Cleveland outrebounded Charlotte by a margin of 47-33 in the last meeting between these teams two nights ago.

The Wine and Gold rank 11th in the NBA with an average of 44.0 rebounds per game, while the Hornets’ 40.7 rebounds per contest are the fewest in the league.