The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to extend their current winning streak. They will look to make it four wins in a row when they play the struggling Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon.
The Cavaliers believe this is a good time to keep improving and become a more dominant team.
“When you have a team like this, what are our strengths and how can we double down on our strengths?” said Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson.
Cleveland just finished a 3-0 homestand, including a 126-114 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
One positive development for the Cavaliers has been forward Evan Mobley’s increased aggressiveness. He has started taking more shots, including hitting three 3-pointers against Denver, finishing with 20 points.
“I like him having that mentality,” Atkinson said. “I think it’s a big key for us.”
Mobley explained that he has been preparing to take more shots further from the basket.
“I was confident out there, so I just kept letting them fly,” Mobley said.
Earlier this season, Cleveland beat the Hornets 128-114 on November 17, when Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball scored a game-high 31 points and had 12 assists. Four players from Cleveland scored more than 20 points, with Darius Garland leading the way with 25.
That game was unusual, as the Hornets took 26 more shots than Cleveland. However, Cleveland outscored them 27-10 at the free-throw line and overcame 20 turnovers. This win was part of Cleveland’s season-opening 15-game winning streak, but since then, they have gone 5-3.
The Hornets have now lost seven games in a row after a 125-101 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday night. Charlotte coach Charles Lee said his team didn’t play with the necessary physicality in the second half.
Brandon Miller continued his strong play, scoring 26 points against the Knicks. He has been the primary scorer for Charlotte in the absence of Ball, who is out with a left calf strain. Miller has scored at least 20 points in nine straight games.
Guard Seth Curry could also give Charlotte a boost after scoring a season-high 18 points in the loss to the Knicks.
The Hornets are trying to work center Mark Williams back into the rotation after his return to action. He has played an average of 9.5 minutes per game in two games this season.
In the long run, this may mean fewer minutes for Moussa Diabate, who has been strong defensively and on the boards but has not been a big factor on offense. Diabate, in his first season with Charlotte, is averaging 3.1 points in 20 minutes per game.
“Very confident with his work ethic and has a very smart, curious mind,” Lee said. “He’s going to continue to grow. Minutes will be tough for him as we get bigs back and their minutes start to grow, but he’s been a true pro.”
Charlotte’s injury problems could worsen, as rookie Tidjane Salaun injured his ankle early in Thursday night’s game.
The Cavaliers have won four of their last five games in Charlotte.
