The Cleveland Cavaliers (35-21) arrive at the Spectrum Center tonight, 20 February 2026, looking to extend a season-high six-game winning streak against the Charlotte Hornets (26-30). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET as Cleveland continues its push for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.
Game Day Essentials
- Date: Friday, 20 February 2026
- Venue: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
- Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network / NBA League Pass
- Current Odds: Cleveland -1.5 (O/U 228.5)
Recent Form & Momentum
Cleveland is currently the hottest team in the NBA, having won 11 of their last 12 contests. They are coming off a dominant 112-84 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden led the charge in the rout, allowing the starters to rest significant minutes ahead of tonight’s back-to-back set.
The Hornets, while sitting four games under .500, have been formidable at home recently. Despite a loss to the Cavaliers earlier this year (94-87 on 21 January), Charlotte has won 10 of their last 13 games overall, showing significant improvement in their defensive rotations and transition scoring led by Brandon Miller.
Head-to-Head History
The Cavaliers have historically controlled this matchup, holding an 81-52 all-time regular-season record against Charlotte. In the 2025-26 campaign, Cleveland has won two of the three meetings so far:
- 21 Jan 2026: Cleveland 94, Charlotte 87
- 22 Dec 2025: Charlotte 139, Cleveland 132 (OT)
- 14 Dec 2025: Cleveland 119, Charlotte 111
Injury Report & Key Matchups
Both teams are monitoring key frontcourt players. Cleveland’s Evan Mobley is listed as a game-time decision, which could leave a gap in the Cavs’ interior defence against Charlotte’s Grant Williams, who is coming off a 20-point, 9-rebound performance on Thursday. For the Hornets, the focus remains on Brandon Miller, whose scoring output has been the primary engine for their recent “mojo” revival.
Prediction
Computer models and betting analysts are split on this narrow margin. While the Cavaliers are the superior team on paper, Charlotte’s recent 10-3 run and home-court advantage make this a “trap game” for Cleveland. Expect a high-scoring affair if Mobley is sidelined, with Cleveland likely edging out a close victory to keep their streak alive.