Cavaliers Vs Hornets: Mitchell’s Late Free Throws Carry Cleveland to 118-113 Win in Charlotte
In the cavaliers vs hornets meeting on Feb. 20, 2026, Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points — 13 of them in the fourth quarter — and the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113. The victory extended Cleveland’s winning streak and underscored several matchup trends from paint dominance to explosive perimeter shooting from Charlotte’s rookie.
Cavaliers Vs Hornets — Game narrative and decisive moments
Cleveland built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked poised to pull away, but Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel heated up with seven 3-pointers and 33 points overall, including multiple shots that helped the Hornets briefly seize control late in the third quarter. Brandon Miller’s and-one layup off a no-look feed from LaMelo Ball cut the deficit to four with about a minute remaining, but Mitchell’s short jumper and four late free throws in the final 40 seconds sealed the 118-113 result.
Stat lines that explain the outcome
- Donovan Mitchell: 32 points, with 13 scored in the fourth quarter; he got to the free-throw line 13 times and made 12.
- Jared Allen: 25 points and 14 rebounds, anchoring Cleveland’s interior production.
- James Harden: 18 points and eight assists, a central playmaking piece for the Cavaliers’ offense.
- Kon Knueppel: 33 points on seven 3-pointers; his 193 made threes on the season place him second all-time among rookies for single-season 3s.
- LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller: 18 points each for Charlotte; Ryan Kalkbrenner added a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double for the Hornets.
- Paint advantage: Cleveland outscored Charlotte 50-28 in the paint, a major factor in the final margin.
Context, rotations and short-term implications
The Hornets were shorthanded in the frontcourt, with suspended forwards and a veteran listed in knee injury management, forcing younger, less experienced players into larger roles. Charlotte has now lost three of its last four games following a nine-game winning streak before the All-Star break.
Cleveland’s victory marked the team’s seventh straight win and its 12th triumph in 13 games, highlighting a hot stretch coming out of the All-Star break. The Cavaliers’ offense has shown increased efficiency with their primary playmakers on the floor, and interior scoring was a decisive edge in this matchup.
Trends to monitor after the Cavs 118-113 result
- Late-game execution: Mitchell’s ability to get to the line and convert free throws in the final minute proved decisive; teams facing the Cavaliers should account for his fourth-quarter aggressiveness.
- Rookie shooting: Knueppel’s long-range threat can erase deficits quickly; his season total of made 3s places him among the top rookie sharpshooters historically.
- Frontcourt depth: Charlotte’s forced lineup changes due to suspensions and load management exposed vulnerabilities in the paint that translated into a sizable scoring gap inside.
- Momentum and rest: Both teams were on the second half of back-to-back sets coming into this contest, and Cleveland had rested starters more heavily the prior night, which may have influenced late-game legs.
The cavaliers vs hornets game combined an explosive outside performance from a rookie with veteran late-game finishing from a star. Cleveland’s ability to control the paint and Mitchell’s free-throw line dominance were the clear differentiators. Details around rostering and rotation will remain relevant as both teams move forward in the season; statistical patterns from this contest provide a concise roadmap for matchups to come.
