Game Thread | 2020-21 Season | Game #59 | Cavs @ Hornets | April 23, 2021

[Wham with the Right Hand]

The Cavs head south to take on the 28-30 Charlotte Hornets who are 14-12 at home. The Hornets are in 8th place, three games ahead of the 10th place Wizards. However, the Wizards are surging, having won 8 of 10, while the Hornets have lost 6 of 7. They need to turn things around or they will miss the playoffs.

The Hornets lost badly to the Bulls last night in Chicago. They were down by 27 after three quarters. They're on the second night of a back-to-back while the Cavs had an off day to savor their win over the Bulls. So after losing to Cleveland by 16 on Wednesday the Bulls beat Charlotte by 17 yesterday.

The Hornets are missing Hayward, LaMelo Ball, and Malik Monk, who rank 2nd, 3rd, and 5th on the team in scoring. Between the three of them the Hornets are missing about 50 points of offense.

Nine days ago the Cavs heat the Hornets in Cleveland 103-90 with Sexton out. Taurean Prince stepped up with 25 points off the bench and the Cavs shot 41.9% on 3's. Unfortunately, it was announced today that Prince will have ankle surgery and is done for the year. But I'm sure Sexton will be happy to make up those missing 25 points.

The Cavs' bigs played well that night with Love putting up a line of 17/11/4 and Allen/Hartenstein combining for 23 points and 12 boards. The defense held the Hornets to 90 points and contained Terry Rozier, who scored only 22 after burning the Cavs for 44 in the season opener.

So the Cavs seem to have the advantage over a team they handled just over a week ago without Sexton. Not only do they have their leading scorer back but they're coming off a day off while the Hornets had to play last night and then fly in from Chicago.

But whenever it looks like the stars are lining up for a Cavs' win they fall on their faces. The win over Chicago two nights ago showed them what happens when they come out of the locker room with fire in their eyes and jump on the opponent right away, both in the first and third quarters. Let's see if they can keep it up or if that was just a one-game reaction to the humiliating loss to the Pistons in the previous game.

 

[red.]

Terrible pass by Nance.

 

[Cavatt]

Team isn't clicking, but everyone is playing together. Allen looks better the past 2 games

 

[red.]

Hornets announcers are hilarious. Called Delly outback Jesus.

 

[cabs]

what is this line up

 

[Goldin Brown]

what is this line up

Prince is out for the year and Cedi is glued to the bench.

 

[cabs]

After TT, Drummond and McGee its crazy seeing our centers get the rebound then stop on the spot and wait for a guard to come get the ball

 

[Rodzilla]

Hornets announcers are hilarious. Called Delly outback Jesus.

dell is still salty at delly

 

[red.]

Delly is David Wesley with passing ability at this point. Was he really blocked or was that an air ball?

 

[Rodzilla]

Delly is David Wesley with passing ability at this point. Was he really blocked or was that an air ball?

he is improving after a year out of the game, for example his last 2 3pt attempts almost went in

but the good news is he is on track for 25 assists

 

[Goldin Brown]

Man, the threat of being put in a body bag by Bridges has got our guys terrified, he can get whatever jumper he wants.

 

[red.]

Good steal. Couldn’t finish. Nance tried to take miles head off.

 

[red.]

DG finding his 3pt shot. Smooth.

 

[Kizzle]

I said this Garland's rookie year when people were saying he was trash, so no one can say I waited until Collin was killing it before I chimed in.



Collin is going to be an all star. In no world do you trade Collin or Garland just to trade them. If you arent getting back an equal player you keep both.


I also dont understand the hate he gets from the board at times.

 

[Goldin Brown]

I like how Collin ate 2 shoulders from Biyombo and then threw his ass on the ground.