NBA Matchups: December 22

CHA @ CLE | IND @ BOS | DAL @ NOP | UTA @ DEN | MEM @ OKC | ORL @ GSW | DET @ POR

Charlotte Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers

Team Totals: Hornets 114.8, Cavs 123.8

Injury Report: LaMelo Ball (P, wrist), Ryan Kalkbrenner (Q, elbow), Collin Sexton (D, quad), Sam Merrill (P, hand), Craig Porter Jr. (P, illness), Donovan Mitchell (P, illness)

Hornets projected starters: LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Ryan Kalkbrenner

Cavs projected starters: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

Lee quotes: Said they battled back against the Pistons but they had to be stronger with the ball, said they’re still young and they have to trust the pass more.

Atkinson quotes: Said they had good spirit and process, said the Garland and Allen combo was awesome for them, said they couldn’t get a stop against the Bulls, said they still think they can be a good transition team and crash the boards, said they liked Proctor in the first unit with Mitchell out, said Hunter has been at a “C level” and it’s Atkinson’s job to get him to an A level, said they really need to hit the boards because they are not making shots.

Stats and Notes: 

*The Cavs might be the most disappointing team in the league, and their defense is clearly missing Evan Mobley. Since Mobley went down, they are 26th in defense, as they give up a lot at the basket and from deep. They have not been able to defend the PNR game after being the league’s best before Mobley went down. This is a team to attack right now. For the Hornets, they are a defense that does not help off, and they are fourth in the NBA in limiting C&S 3PAs. They’re getting beaten on the ball a bunch, and they give it up in the paint, too. They’ve been a strong rebounding team, so the Cavs should be able to drive against them all night.