Charlotte’s four-game win streak came to an end on Friday, but the Hornets didn’t give it up without a fight. Kemba Walker had 40 points in a losing effort as the Hornets fell 113-111 to the Toronto Raptors. Despite the loss, the Hornets are still having a great start to the season. They are 6-2 (5-3 against the spread), tied for 2nd in the East.
Walker has been playing at an All-Star level to start the year. He’s averaging a career-high 26 points, while shooting a blistering 49 percent from the field and 46 percent from beyond the arc (also career-best marks). He’s leading a Hornets offense which is currently ranked No. 10 in offensive rating.
However, defense remains the team’s bread and butter. Their 98.0 defensive rating is ranked No. 3 in the NBA, behind only the Clippers and Hawks. Three-point defense has been a huge reason for the Hornets’ defensive success. They are holding opponents to just 31 percent from beyond the arc, second-best in the league. That ability to defend the three-point line will be crucial against the Cavs, who are leading the league with 13 made threes per game.
The Cavs bounced back well from their first loss of the season against Atlanta as they beat the struggling Washington Wizards, 105-94, on Friday. Cleveland improves to 7-1, one game ahead of Charlotte, Toronto, and Atlanta in the East standings. The Cavs haven’t been too good at covering the spread this season, though. They’re just 3-5 ATS in their first eight games.
Cleveland’s Big Three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love, has been playing at a very high level. James is averaging a near-triple-double (23 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists); Irving is averaging a career-high 24.5 points and hitting nearly three 3-pointers per game; and Love is almost back to his 20-10 production. As a result, the Cavs own the second-best offensive rating in the league behind only the Warriors.
As if those three weren’t enough of an advantage, the Cavs’ home-court advantage has been incredibly effective against the Charlotte franchise. Cleveland is 17-3 in its last 20 home games, and is 7-3 against the spread in its last 10 against the Bobcats/Hornets.
Writer’s Prediction
The Hornets (+8) keep it close and cover against the Cavs.
