The Charlotte Hornets had been on a special run before the All-Star break. But not as special as the one the Cleveland Cavaliers are putting together.
The Cavaliers will show up in Charlotte for Friday night’s game riding a season-high six-game winning streak and winners of 11 of their last 12 games.
The Hornets, despite losing two of three, have won 10 of 12.
The Cavaliers rolled to a 112-84 home victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night when play resumed after the All-Star break. That result came despite Cleveland scoring only 10 fourth-quarter points. Otherwise, the offense was spread out with Donovan Mitchell’s 17 points the team’s top total.
Cleveland’s roster was restocked after the layoff, with Evan Mobley, who had missed seven games, and Dean Wade, who was out for three games, back in action Thursday and each scoring 10 points. With games on back-to-back nights, perhaps their statuses will be monitored for Friday.
Regardless, it’s a matter for the Cavaliers to figure out how their roles will evolve combined with the recent addition of James Harden.
“We’re figuring out rotations and lineups,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “There are a lot of moving pieces with that which we all know is part of it.”
The Cavaliers will want to maintain a shooting touch that included 64.3% from the field in the first half against Brooklyn.
Despite a sterling stretch before the All-Star break, the Hornets suddenly find themselves in a mini-funk. They lost 105-101 to the visiting Houston Rockets on Thursday.
“Usually our offense is a little bit more dynamic,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said.
The Hornets are dealing with a few unanticipated variables as they play without suspended center Moussa Diabate and forward Miles Bridges because of their roles in last week’s brawl with the Detroit Pistons. Then point guard LaMelo Ball was involved in a Charlotte automobile accident Wednesday, though he played Thursday.
“There’s always going to be distractions,” Lee said. “In life, in basketball, things that just come up.”
Ball arrived for Thursday’s game in good order to play his regular role. In his 31 minutes, his numbers lagged a bit with 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Cavaliers are embracing the addition of Harden, who has played three games since a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. While his scoring ability is bound to be a plus, he has demonstrated more than that.
“James was elite,” Atkinson said after the win. “(A) 98 defensive rating when he was on the court. I just love his contests. He’s really smart and when he gives that type of effort, it would be tough to beat us.”
Charlotte is aiming for a season split with the Cavaliers, who won last month’s meeting in Charlotte 94-87 after the teams split two December matchups in Cleveland.
Mitchell averaged 27 points in the Cavaliers’ two victories against the Hornets.
Charlotte’s Brandon Miller will look to build a new streak in terms of free-throw shooting. He set the franchise record with 54 in a row during Thursday’s game and then missed his next attempt.
This is the second straight team that will visit the Hornets carrying a four-game winning streak in road games. Houston left with five straight.
