Hornets Shut Down Cavaliers in Overtime Victory
The Charlotte Hornets walked into Rocket Arena on Sunday afternoon knowing they had something to prove, and by the time overtime ended, they had done exactly that. In front of a lively Cleveland crowd of over 19,000 fans, the Hornets earned a 119–111 overtime victory over the Cavaliers, snapping a frustrating trend after losing all four meetings against Cleveland last season. Charlotte set the tone early by playing with confidence and control, taking a 33–29 lead at the end of the first quarter. That energy carried into the second, as the Hornets continued to knock down shots and defend just well enough to build a 57–47 advantage by halftime. From the opening minutes, Charlotte looked comfortable playing at its own pace, even in a hostile environment.
The Hornets maintained their edge coming out of the break and never allowed Cleveland to fully swing momentum in the third quarter, as Charlotte entered the fourth quarter with an 88–79 lead, keeping the Cavaliers at arm’s length for most of the night. Cleveland finally made its push late in the fourth, tightening up defensively and finding just enough offense to tie the game at 111–111 and force overtime. What followed was one of the most impressive defensive stretches the Hornets have put together in decades. Charlotte completely shut down Cleveland in the extra period, outscoring the Cavaliers 8–0 and holding their opponent scoreless in overtime for the first time since 1997.
Offensively, the Hornets leaned heavily on Kon Knueppel, who finished with 29 points and knocked down three three-pointers while consistently delivering timely shots. Brandon Miller played a major role as well, posting 25 points and 13 rebounds while impacting the game on both ends of the floor. Miles Bridges added a strong double-double of his own with 20 points and 10 rebounds, giving Charlotte a steady presence throughout the contest. No other Hornet reached double figures, but the trio did more than enough to carry the scoring load. Charlotte’s efficiency was key, as the team shot 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, struggled to find consistent offense, especially from most of their top options. Darius Garland did turn in a solid performance, leading Cleveland with 26 points and nine assists while doing his best to keep the offense afloat. Donovan Mitchell endured a difficult afternoon, finishing with 17 points on 6-for-24 shooting and just 1-for-11 from three, which ultimately swung the game in Charlotte’s favor. Jaylon Tyson provided a spark off the bench with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Dean Wade added 14 points as a starter and Thomas Bryant chipped in 10 off the bench. With Evan Mobley sidelined, Jarrett Allen on a minutes restriction, and key shooters Max Strus and Sam Merrill unavailable, Cleveland simply did not have enough firepower when it mattered most.
Charlotte earned the win despite being without LaMelo Ball and several key bench pieces, including Grant Williams, Tre Mann, and Collin Sexton, which made the road victory even more impressive. The Hornets showed composure late, trusted their top scorers, and delivered a locked-in defensive performance when the game mattered most. Charlotte will now return home on Thursday to face Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks, looking to build off one of its most complete wins of the season. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers will hit the road to take on Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night as they attempt to bounce back.
