Charlotte @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2019 ) Charlotte 124, Cleveland 97

The Cleveland Cavaliers lost five times during a challenging six-game gauntlet against some of the league's elite teams. They'll try to pick up a rare victory when they play a three-game homestand against some sub-.500 teams, beginning Wednesday with a visit from the Charlotte Hornets.

Cleveland played five of the six games on the road and fell to Philadelphia, Boston, Houston, Milwaukee and Toronto - a group of squads that are a combined 61 games over .500 - while stealing one in San Antonio. "I think it's the same story that we've had the last few games," Cavaliers coach John Beilein told reporters following Monday's 133-113 loss at Toronto. "Played a really, really good team that has a great plan, has incredible shooters, length, quickness, got it all." Behind a season-high 23 points and career-best 10 rebounds from Malik Monk, the Hornets got past Sacramento 110-102 on Tuesday at home for their fourth win in the last five games. Fellow reserve Marvin Williams added 16 points for Charlotte.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), FS Ohio (Cleveland)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (13-17): Charlotte entered Tuesday ranked 26th in the NBA in rebounding differential (minus-2.9) before dominating the Kings on the glass by a 51-33 margin, part of an uptick in physical play that is paying dividends. "There is real ownership about the defense, nothing easy," coach James Borrego told reporters. "This last four-, five-, six-game run for us. There is just more attention to detail on that end of the floor, more physicality, more defense. We were on the boards in a big way." Bismack Biyombo had 12 of the rebounds while recording his fourth double-double of the season and third in the last five games.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (6-21): Two games after scoring 28 points in the win at San Antonio, point guard Collin Sexton had 25 on 10-of-16 shooting against the Raptors. Rookie Darius Garland chipped in 20 while recording five assists for the third consecutive game. Cleveland finished with a season-high 30 assists against 11 turnovers in the loss.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers C John Henson on Monday recorded season highs of seven rebounds and five assists in 16 minutes off the bench.

2. Hornets PF Cody Zeller is averaging 15.7 points and 10.3 rebounds over his last three games.

3. Charlotte took three of four meetings last season.

PREDICTION: Hornets 116, Cavaliers 114