Cavaliers vs. Hornets prediction: Cleveland to win, Donovan Mitchell projected for big game in Wednesday's NBA matchup [1/21/2026]

The Charlotte Hornets will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA action at Spectrum Center on Wednesday, commencing at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on updated simulations and today’s injury news, Dimers' proven NBA model projects the Cavaliers as the most likely winner of the Cavaliers vs. Hornets game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Hornets lineup will feature players like Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel, while the Cavaliers will look to Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jaylon Tyson.

This article offers a closer look at Wednesday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Cavs vs. Hornets prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Wednesday's NBA game between the Cavaliers and Hornets 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model gives the Cavaliers a 62% chance of beating the Hornets. Our predicted final score has the Cavaliers winning 118-115.

According to our model, the Cavaliers (-3.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the 238.5-point over/under has a 54% chance of staying under.

Cavaliers vs. Hornets odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Cavaliers	Hornets
Spread	-3.5 (-105)	+3.5 (-110)
Moneyline	-155	+138
Total	o238.5 (-105)	u238.5 (-112)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Cavaliers vs. Hornets picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Spread	Cavaliers -3.5	-105
Moneyline	Cavaliers	-155
Total	Under 238.5	-112

According to our best NBA bets for Wednesday, the top play to make on this game is Under 238.5 total points.

Cavaliers vs. Hornets player props

Betting on Cavaliers vs. Hornets NBA prop bets? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Spectrum Center.

Donovan Mitchell is expected to lead the Cavaliers with 29 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Brandon Miller is projected to have 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists for the Hornets.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Cavaliers prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Cavaliers are:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
D. Mitchell	29	5	6	4	52
Evan Mobley	18	8	5	2	42
Jaylon Tyson	15	6	3	2	32
De'Andre Hunter	14	4	2	2	26
Jarrett Allen	14	8	2	0	32

Hornets prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Hornets:

Player	PTS	REB	AST	3PM	DFS
Brandon Miller	21	5	3	3	39
LaMelo Ball	20	4	7	4	42
Kon Knueppel	19	5	3	3	35
Miles Bridges	19	6	3	2	36
Collin Sexton	13	2	4	1	24

Cavs vs. Hornets game-day updates and essential details

Wednesday's game between the Hornets and Cavaliers at Spectrum Center is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Hornets
• Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Spectrum Center

Conclusion

We predict the Cavaliers, with a 62% win probability, will likely beat the Hornets on Wednesday, with Donovan Mitchell projected for a game-high 52 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Cavaliers vs. Hornets insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Note: Clicking links to our partners may earn us a referral fee. Learn about how we review products and services.