Cavaliers -8.5: Charlotte Limps Into Its Sixth Straight Loss Short-Handed

Charlotte arrives reeling. The Hornets have dropped six straight and scored just 91.6 points a game over their last five, a drought that should make any bettor nervous. They are no fortress defensively either, allowing 110.2 per game. Cleveland's offensive efficiency of 113.6 sits well clear of Charlotte's 98.1, and that gap is the heart of this number.

The injury report makes the home side's situation worse. Brandon Miller, who averages 20.6 points per game, is out, and Dennis Schroder is also missing. Moussa Diabate is questionable. By the numbers, roughly 69 of 240 available minutes are gone for Charlotte, compared with about 39 for Cleveland. That is a lopsided ledger.

Cleveland is not clean, though. The Cavaliers are playing their fourth game in seven days, and Jarrett Allen's availability is a real question mark. Those two factors are why this sits at 3 out of 5 confidence rather than the top of the scale.

Our published pick is Cavaliers -8.5. In plain language, we think Cleveland wins this game by more than eight points. Our projection lands around 11 to 13 points, which would clear the number with room to spare. If Allen sits and the schedule catches up with Cleveland, the margin gets thinner, so keep your stake honest.