Charlotte @ Cleveland preview

Charlotte at Cleveland

Last Meeting ( Feb 4, 2022 ) Cleveland 102, Charlotte 101

The ailing Cleveland Cavaliers have four setbacks in their past five contests heading into Wednesday night's home game against the Charlotte Hornets.

With three point guards out of action recently, only All-Star Darius Garland (bone bruise in lower back) is back to day-to-day status. Caris LeVert (sprained foot) and Rajon Rondo (sprained big toe) remain unavailable.

The Cavs are coming off of Monday's 127-122 loss to Minnesota, when they climbed out of a 23-point deficit to tie the game in the final minute, only to see the Timberwolves score the last five points.

Brandon Goodwin, who made his second consecutive start at point guard, recorded his first NBA double-double with 17 points and a game-high 12 assists, with just one turnover.

Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Goodwin's prowess is due to growing confidence and a "belief he belongs."

"He was finding us," Cavs swingman Cedi Osman said. "He put us in the right spots."

Osman, who had 21 points and five assists, lamented that the Cavs had 20 turnovers.

"That's way too many," he said.

The Hornets also have been struggling, having lost 11 of 13 games, including the past two.

The Hornets' strength is their backcourt, however, which includes All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball (19.9 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.5 steals) and Terry Rozier (19 ppg).

The Hornets were the league's highest-scoring team at 114.1 ppg heading into Tuesday night's games. Six different Hornets average more than 14 points a game.

"We're trying to keep our offense unpredictable," coach James Borrego said. "We do it with multiple playmakers. The diversity of our offense is to play through a number of guys."

Charlotte also is formidable up front with power forward Miles Bridges (19.9 ppg and 7.2 rebounds) and newly acquired Montrezl Harrell, who has given the Cavs fits in the past.

Cleveland's Kevin Love snapped a two-game shooting slump with a game-high 26 points in 26 minutes in the loss to Minnesota, noting that the team did not give up despite the large deficit.

"No matter the score, we're going to fight," Love said. "That's our identity. When we're down, we never fully feel we're out of it."

Bickerstaff said, "It's a blessing to have a guy like Kevin," but added, "There are no silver linings."

"Guys competed like they always do. But we have to be better," the coach said. "When you dig a hole of 23 points, you have to be dang near perfect. It wasn't a lack of trying to do the right thing."

The Cavs, who have won two of three games against the Hornets this season, are scheduled for 16 games in March, more than one every two days.

--Field Level Media