featured-image

#CavsHornets Game Preview - March 24, 2017

Game Summary

The Cavaliers close out their four-game road trip on Friday night at the Spectrum Center against the Charlotte Hornets. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. (ET).

After Wednesday night's loss to the Nuggets in Denver, the Wine and Gold have a one game lead over the Boston Celtics for the top seed in the Eastern Conference with their 46-24 record.

Wine Jersey

CAVS TO DON WINE JERSEYS.
From where to catch all the action to Friday's game notes, Cavs.com has you covered.

FOX Sports Ohio

WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 FM La Mega

Joe G. has your five keys to a victory.

Learn more about Friday's matchup.

Get into the conversation with other die-hards.

The Cavaliers will look to get back on track against a Hornets squad they have controlled this season. In three matchups (all wins) against Charlotte this campaign, the Cavs have scored over 115 points twice and are averaging 112.2 points on .496 shooting from the field, including .410 (41-100) from three-point range.

Furthermore, Cleveland has won nnine of the last 10 contests against Charlotte, outscoring the Hornets 107.2 to 97.4 during that span. The Wine and Gold are shooting .476 from the field (.413 3FG%), while limiting the Hornets to a .439 mark (.308 3FG%) over that stretch. The Cavs have shot at least 50 percent in three of the last four meetings.

Charlotte enters Friday's contest on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Magic, 109-102, on Wednesday night in Orlando. The Hornets floor general, Kemba Walker, led the way with team-highs of 22 points and seven assists.

Despite their recent winning streak, the Hornets are still on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture looking in with their 32-39 record, three games behind the eighth seeded Miami Heat.

The Hornets are lead by their aforementioned All-Star who leads their team with a 22.7 scoring average to go along with 5.5 assists per game.

Where to Catch the Action

TV: FOX Sports Ohio

Radio: WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 La Mega

For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike and @chones22 on Twitter.

Probable Starters/Status Update*

#2 - Kyrie Irving

#4 - Iman Shumpert

#23 - LeBron James

#0 - Kevin Love

#13 - Tristan Thompson

G

G

F

F

C

#15 - Kemba Walker

#5 - Nicolas Batum

#14 - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

#2 - Marvin Williams

#40 - Cody Zeller

Status Update: (Cavs) - None to Report

Status Update: (Hornets) - None to Report

*Subject to change.

Taking the Sting out of the Hornets

With a win on Friday, the Cavs will sweep the season series with the Hornets for the second time in three seasons.

The last time these two teams squared off, the Wine and Gold posted a 121-109 victory in Charlotte on New Year's Eve. The Cavs shot 43-85 (.506) from the field and 14-31 (.452) on threes. Cleveland tied their season low with six turnovers in the win and outscored the Hornets 24-7 in points off turnovers.

While the Wine and Gold have enjoyed team success against the Hornets, they have also had some superb individual performances versus Charlotte.

In the three games against the Hornets this season, LeBron James is averaging 31.7 points on .529 shooting, including a .478 (11-23) clip from deep, 7.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 39.0 minutes.

Kevin Love scored 22 points in the first half in the last meeting with Charlotte and finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds in 39 minutes. In his career against the Hornets (20 games), Love is averaging 19.8 points on .498 shooting from the field, including .456 on three-pointers (highest against any East team) and 10.3 rebounds.

Channing Frye has scored at least 20 points four times this season, which includes the November 13 win over Charlotte when he poured in 20 points, a season-high six three-pointers and a season-high three blocks during a 100-93 Cleveland victory.

On Deck

Cleveland returns for a quick stopover at The Q – facing off against John Wall, Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards on Saturday before getting right back on the road next week – traveling to San Antonio on Monday followed by a matchup with the Bulls in Chicago on Thursday. The Wine and Gold wrap up the month of March the following night when they welcome the Philadelphia Sixers to town.FIND SEATS | VIEW FULL SCHEDULE