NBA Matchups: January 21

CLE @ CHA | IND @ BOS | BKN @ NYK | ATL @ MEM | DET @ NOP | OKC @ MIL | TOR @ SAC

Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets (front end)

Team Totals: Cavs 120, Hornets 117.5

Injury Report: Darius Garland (O, toe), Sam Merrill (O, hand), Tidjane Salaun (P, Achilles)

Cavs projected starters: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Hornets projected starters: LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Moussa Diabate

Atkinson quotes: Said it was “total domination” for the Thunder against them, said they did rebound it well against the Thunder, said Dort is such an elite defender, said Chet is probably the best rim protector in the league, said OKC was just swarming them all the time, said they have to flush the OKC game and move on.

Lee quotes: Said they were sharp from the jump against the Nuggets, said they could’ve been tighter against Curry, said it took them too long to get into the speed of the game against the Warriors, said they’re “trying to be creative” to keep his minutes down on Melo on a B2B.

Stats and Notes: 

*What a week for the Cavs with two big wins against the 76ers, a blowout loss to the Thunder, and losing at home to the Jazz. Besides the OKC loss, their defense had been trending in the right direction. Their transition defense has been worse, and they have been giving up more C&S stuff recently. They’ll get a Hornets team that’s on a B2B and should be managing their team. For the last 30 days, the Hornets have been fourth in offensive rating thanks to being the best team in the league at putback points per miss. They’ve been a tough team to rebound against all year, but they are more vulnerable at the basket. With the Hornets not giving up much on C&S, it presents a great spot for the on-ball Cavs guys.

*This sets up as an amazing spot for Donovan Mitchell. In the last two games without Darius Garland, he dominated the ball with 16.0 potential assists and 6.1 minutes of touch time. The Hornets do give it up to lead guards, and it should be Kon Knueppel on him. I love Donny today in a tighter spread and not on a B2B.

*Evan Mobley’s matchup isn’t perfect with Miles Bridges on him, and the Hornets are doing much better with their paint protection. Kenny Atkinson also isn’t really staggering Mobley away from Mitchell to keep him from some stronger usage.

*Jarrett Allen is getting staggered away from the Mobley-Mitchell duo, but this isn’t the best spot with the Hornets rebounding it so well right now. Allen’s paint touches have still been solid without Garland at 9.0 per game in the last two, and he should be screening more for Mitchell. I don’t love it here for him.

*LaMelo Ball on a B2B makes him too tough to play. There’s a chance that he comes off the bench again, and he doesn’t get a great matchup anyway against Jaylon Tyson and a team that’s very good in PNR handler defense.