The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, February 20, at Spectrum Center with key rotation pieces sidelined on both sides.
Cleveland (34-21) enters the matchup fourth in the Eastern Conference and riding a five-game winning streak, but it will be without All-Star forward Evan Mobley.
Mobley is listed out due to left calf injury management, removing a two-way anchor who averages 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.
Max Strus also remains out following left foot surgery for a Jones fracture, limiting perimeter depth and floor spacing in the second unit.
Two-way guard Riley Minix is out on G League assignment, while forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin is probable with left calf soreness. Tomlin averages 6.6 points in 17.0 minutes and provides frontcourt energy off the bench.
The absence of Mobley increases the burden on Jarrett Allen in the paint. The starting center is averaging 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 62.3% from the field.
Donovan Mitchell continues to lead the offense at 29.0 points and 5.9 assists per game on 48.7% shooting. Cleveland has scored 138 and 119 points in its last two wins, including a 138-113 victory over Washington on February 11 and a 119-117 road win in Denver on February 9.
Charlotte (26-29) sits ninth in the East and has won nine of its last 10 games. The Hornets, however, will be without several contributors.
Miles Bridges is out due to league suspension. Bridges averages 18.2 points and 6.1 rebounds and is one of the team’s primary scoring options.
Center Moussa Diabate is also out because of league suspension. Diabate averages 8.2 points and 8.6 rebounds, impacting Charlotte’s interior rebounding.
Liam McNeeley is sidelined with a left ankle sprain, while Coby White is out with a left calf strain. Grant Williams will miss the game for right knee injury management.
With Bridges unavailable, more offensive responsibility falls on Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Miller leads the team with 20.6 points per game, while Ball adds 19.3 points and 7.4 assists.
Kon Knueppel has also been efficient, averaging 18.9 points and shooting 43.1% from three-point range. His perimeter shooting could test Cleveland’s wing defenders.
The season series is tied 2-1 in favor of the Cavaliers. Charlotte won 119-111 on December 14, while Cleveland responded with wins on December 22 (139-132) and January 21 (94-87).
