Cavaliers Vs Hornets: cavaliers vs hornets 118-113 Game Recap

On Feb. 20, 2026 (ET) in Charlotte, the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the Hornets 118-113, extending Cleveland's win streak and marking their 12th victory in 13 games. The cavaliers vs hornets matchup hinged on a late burst from Donovan Mitchell and persistent paint dominance by Cleveland.

Cavaliers Vs Hornets recap

Cleveland built a 14-point lead in the second quarter before Charlotte rallied behind a torrid performance from Kon Knueppel. Knueppel finished with 33 points and seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second-most by a rookie in league history. The Hornets briefly took the lead late in the third after three more long-range makes from Knueppel, but the Cavs closed the game in the final minute.

The final sequence saw Brandon Miller convert an and-one layup off a no-look feed from LaMelo Ball to cut the margin to four with roughly a minute remaining. Cleveland responded with a short jumper from Donovan Mitchell and then four made free throws over the final 40 seconds to seal the five-point win.

Donovan Mitchell's fourth-quarter push

Mitchell finished with 32 points, delivering 13 of those in the fourth quarter while getting to the free-throw line 13 times and converting 12 attempts. The boxscore for Mitchell also included assists, rebounds and steals that reinforced his all-around impact late in the game. That scoring night marked his 100th 30-plus point game for his current team.

James Harden contributed 18 points and eight assists, helping the offense sustain possessions when Cleveland needed scoring balance. Jared Allen provided physicality inside, finishing with double-figure rebounds and tens of points while the Cavaliers outscored Charlotte 50-28 in the paint.

cavaliers vs hornets implications

Charlotte was forced to rely on a younger frontcourt after missing suspended forwards and a veteran held out for knee management; those absences left the Hornets thinner inside and helped explain Cleveland's edge on the glass and in the paint. LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each scored 18 points, and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double for Charlotte.

With the win Cleveland pushed its streak to seven straight and 12 wins in 13 games, while Charlotte has now lost three of four after a nine-game winning run that ended before the All-Star break. Knueppel's shooting volume remains a defining element for Charlotte — his seven 3s on this night underscored how quickly he can change a game's trajectory.

• Final score: Cavaliers 118, Hornets 113; Cleveland improved to seven straight wins.
• Key performances: Donovan Mitchell 32 points with 13 in the fourth; Kon Knueppel 33 points and seven 3-pointers.
• Match factors: Cavs dominated the paint (50-28); Hornets were undermanned in the frontcourt due to suspensions and knee management.

Looking ahead, Cleveland's streak rests in part on continued interior scoring and Mitchell's late-game aggressiveness. If the Cavaliers maintain their paint advantage and Mitchell continues to draw fouls and convert free throws at the same rate, Cleveland's recent form suggests they can keep winning tight games. Conversely, if Charlotte's injured and suspended players return to availability and Knueppel sustains his deep shooting, the Hornets' ceiling could rise quickly. Both scenarios are conditional on health and shooting trends that were evident in this matchup.