The Cavs open up a four-game homestand as they welcome the Hornets to town.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (30-4) vs. Charlotte Hornets (7-26).

Where: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – Cleveland, OH

When: 6 p.m., Sunday January 5

TV: Fanduel Sports Network Ohio (previously Bally Sports), NBA League Pass

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Line: Cavs -15.5

Cavs expected starting lineup: Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Cavs injury report: Isaac Okoro – OUT (shoulder), Sam Merrill- QUESTIONABLE (ankle sprain), Emoni Bates- OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Hornets expected starting lineup: Vasilije Micic, Seth Curry, Miles Bridges, Josh Green, Mark Williams

Hornets injury report: LaMelo Ball – QUESTIONABLE (ankle and wrist), Brandon Miller – QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Tre Mann – OUT (disc), Grant Williams – OUT (knee), DaQuan Jeffries – QUESTIONABLE (abs), Josh Green – PROBABLE (shoulder), Moussa Diabate – OUT (G League), Isaiah Wong – OUT (G League)

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What to watch for

Keeping the good play going

Cleveland has won nine straight games by double digits. Meanwhile, the Hornets are one of the worst teams in the league, could be without their two best players, and are just coming off a performance against the Detroit Pistons where they scored just 29 points in the second half to lose by four. This should be a game the Cavaliers win with ease.

That said, it’d be easy to look past Charlotte. The Cavs are coming off of a four-game Western Conference road trip. The first home game after being away for that long is easy to drop. Additionally, Wednesday’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder will be the second-biggest game of the regular season so far for the Cavs. It’d be easy to let both of those things keep them from playing their best.

Repeat Mobley performance

Mobey scored a career-high 41 points against Charlotte’s weak front line when they played last month. That performance catapulted Mobley into one of the most impressive stretches of his career. In the 10 games since, he’s averaging 21.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 63.4% from the field and 53.8% from distance on 3.9 three-point attempts per game.

Mobley will have an interesting test against OKC on Wednesday. How he does there will likely determine if the Cavs win that game. In the meantime, you’d like to see him have a strong showing here so he can head into that matchup with confidence.

No matter what happens from now until the start of Spring Training, the Cleveland Guardians’ lineup going into Opening Day will look much different than it did when the 2024 season ended.

Josh Naylor and Andres Gimenez are out; Carlos Santana is in. The Guardians will either rely heavily on their prospects and youth, sign one of the remaining free agents, or swing a trade to fill their spots.

Based on everything we know about the Guardians’ offseason so far, here’s the best prediction for Cleveland’s 2025 Opening Day lineup.

LF – Steven Kwan
1B – Carlos Santana
3B – Jose Ramirez
DH – Kyle Manzardo
2B – Juan Brito
CF – Lane Thomas
RF – Austin Hays
SS – Brayan Rocchio
C – Bo Naylor

There’s nothing too surprising with the top four in this order. The most significant decision Stephen Vogt will have in this section of the lineup is who to bat second.

Manzardo had some experience hitting their last season, but Santana still has a tremendous eye and on-base percentage (.328 OBP in 2024), making him a better option as a top-two hitter in the order.

Moving on to second base, the Guardians have some decisions to make with how they want to approach the position heading into this season. As of now, allowing Brito to be the full-time second baseman appears to be the best option.

Yes, there are some defensive concerns, but his offensive potential should make up for that.

Lane Thomas was at the center of some trade rumors earlier this offseason, but the Guardians would need a backup option if they were to move on from him. So far, that hasn’t happened, so it’s hard to envision a Thomas trade happening.

Maybe the biggest shock of this prediction is including Austin Hays as the starting right fielder.

The Guardians need more offensive production from their outfield. It’s no secret that they’re a money-conscious organization, so signing someone such as Hays with a ton of upside makes a lot of sense for the team.

Maybe it won’t end up being Hays who becomes a Guardian, but Cleveland should at least sign one low-risk, high-reward veteran before the offseason is over.

If the front office doesn’t sign a veteran outfield, Jhonkensy Noel is the next option up to start in the Guardians lineup.

Both Rocchio and Naylor could take big steps forward in 2025. They’re likely locks at their defensive positions, but it’s hard to move them up any further than this because of their regular season performances from a year ago.

It’s important to note that there is still plenty of time before Spring Training games actually begin and plenty of free agents left, which could directly or indirectly impact the Guardians. This is just a prediction of what Cleveland’s lineup could be, not what it will be.

But until that happens, this type of lineup feels like what Guardians fans could see on March 27.

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Cleveland, OH – Snowfall will sweep into Ohio late Sunday evening, potentially impacting Monday morning commutes, especially south of US-30. Drivers in Cleveland and surrounding areas are urged to prepare for slick conditions and reduced visibility during peak travel times.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Cleveland, the storm will arrive after midnight and persist through Monday afternoon. Snow accumulation is expected to vary, with areas south of US-30 seeing 2-4 inches, while northern regions may receive less than 2 inches. A sharp gradient in snowfall amounts is predicted, making road conditions unpredictable across the region.

High winds, gusting up to 32 mph, are expected Monday, further reducing visibility. Motorists are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time. Blustery conditions will persist through Monday evening, and wind chills will make temperatures feel even colder.

Looking ahead, scattered snow showers will continue through midweek. Tuesday’s high is forecast at 29°F, with light snow possible. By Wednesday, expect additional flurries and a high near 25°F. The colder pattern is set to linger through the week, with highs in the mid-20s and overnight lows dipping into the teens.

Stay updated with local weather advisories and check road conditions before heading out. Emergency kits with blankets, water, and flashlights are recommended for those traveling longer distances.

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