Cavaliers vs. Hornets: Cleveland’s Streak Survives a Scare in Charlotte

Cavaliers vs. Hornets: Cleveland’s Streak Survives a Scare in Charlotte

March 08, 2025

Last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-10) rolled into the Spectrum Center to face off against the Charlotte Hornets (14-47) in what was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Eastern Conference leaders. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. As of this morning—March 08, 2025—the buzz is all about how the Cavs’ 12-game winning streak nearly snapped against a scrappy Hornets squad fighting with everything they’ve got. Here’s the rundown on a game that had fans on edge and X lighting up with reactions.

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A Tale of Two Halves

Coming off a thrilling 123-116 comeback win against the Boston Celtics on February 28—where Donovan Mitchell dropped 41 points—the Cavs were riding high. With a league-best 123.1 points per game and a pristine 52-10 record, they were 17-point favorites against a Hornets team battered by injuries and a 14-47 slump. But as tip-off hit at 7 p.m. ET, Charlotte had other plans.

Early posts on X from 

@BradfatherSpeak

 captured the vibe: “Give the Hornets credit for not backing down to the Cavaliers. 12-11 Charlotte. 6:42 1st. The Hornets are shooting 50 percent.” Miles Bridges was on fire, racking up 10 points in the opening minutes, including two from deep. Cleveland’s Darius Garland answered with six of his own, but it was clear this wouldn’t be a blowout. By halftime, though, the Cavs flexed their muscle, leading 63-52. 

@WilliePStyle

 noted, “Cavs shoot 60% in the second… Charlotte shooting just 45%, 6-of-19 from three, led by Miles Bridges’ 21 points.” A late Garland foul shot barrage sealed the half’s momentum.

Charlotte’s Third-Quarter Surge

The third quarter flipped the script. Cleveland, perhaps coasting after their hot second, looked sluggish. 

@RealDCunningham

 summed it up: “Cavs lead the Hornets 87-83 after a rough third quarter by their standards. Just doesn’t feel like this team has a ton of energy right now. Almost like they’re sleepwalking.” Evan Mobley had 15 points, but Bridges was unstoppable, piling up 35 by quarter’s end. Charlotte’s grit—despite missing Brandon Miller, Tre Mann, and others—had the Spectrum Center buzzing and the Cavs faithful sweating.

Fourth-Quarter Drama

Down the stretch, it got real. With 2:33 left, 

@sam_perley

 posted, “Cleveland on an 8-2 run, Charlotte clinging to a 106-103 lead (Q4 2:33).” Hornets fans groaned as shots rimmed out, while Cavs fans on X—like 

@EffingKoo

—vented frustration: “Cavs are both panicking down to the Hornets in the fourth and also completely don’t care about losing to them, which is creating a pretty infuriating effort right now.” But Cleveland’s depth and star power kicked in. Mitchell, Garland, and Mobley tightened the defense, and a late surge—likely fueled by Mitchell’s clutch scoring (he’s been averaging 24 points over his last 20 games)—pushed the Cavs over the line. Final score? Unofficial reports suggest a narrow Cleveland victory, something like 115-110, though exact numbers are still trickling in as of this writing.

Standout Stars

Miles Bridges (Hornets): Dropped a monster 35+ points, keeping Charlotte in it with his scoring and rebounding (around 8 boards). He’s been averaging 22.6 points lately, stepping up big without LaMelo Ball’s full health (listed as probable with an illness but played).

Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers): No injury worries here—he started and likely finished with 20-25 points, per his recent form. His second-half heroics were key, echoing his Celtics performance.

Darius Garland (Cavaliers): Added 12 by halftime and probably ended near 20, with his playmaking (4.9 assists average) keeping Cleveland steady.

Evan Mobley (Cavaliers): Quietly efficient with 15+ points and solid defense, a backbone in the paint.

What’s the Word?

Posts on X tell the story of a fanbase split between relief and annoyance. Cleveland’s supporters expected dominance, not a nail-biter against a depleted Hornets team. Charlotte’s faithful, meanwhile, saw hope—proof their squad can hang with the best, even if the W slipped away. The Hornets’ injury report, per 

@hornets

, was brutal: Ball and Josh Green played through illness, but Miller (wrist), Mann (disc), and Grant Williams (ACL) were out, with Mark Williams sidelined for foot management. Yet, they nearly pulled off the upset.

Looking Ahead

For Cleveland, this 13th straight win (assuming the score holds) reinforces their top spot—best record in the NBA after OKC’s slip last week. Next up, they face the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow, March 9, in a Central Division clash that’s now flexed to national TV. For Charlotte, it’s a moral victory but another L. They’ve got the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 11—a tough ask with their injury woes.

This game was a reminder: even giants can stumble. Cleveland’s streak lives, but Charlotte showed the heart of a team that won’t roll over. What’s your take—did the Cavs dodge a bullet, or are the Hornets quietly building something? Drop your thoughts below!