Final Score: Cleveland Cavaliers 118, Charlotte Hornets 113
If you landed here looking for the complete Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets match player stats from February 20, 2026, you are in the right place. Cleveland edged out a road win at Spectrum Center, 118 to 113, behind a monster performance from Donovan Mitchell (32 pts) and a dominant double-double from Jarrett Allen (26 pts, 14 reb). For Charlotte, rookie Kon Knueppel was the story with a breakout 33-point performance, but it was not enough to hold off a Cavs squad that outplayed the Hornets in the paint all night.
Table of contents
- Quick Score Summary
- Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats
- Charlotte Hornets Player Stats
- Head to Head Team Comparison
- Game Story: How It Actually Played Out
- Donovan Mitchell: Still the Engine
- Jarrett Allen Was the Real Problem for Charlotte
- Kon Knueppel: Rookie Statement Game
- LaMelo Ball: Rough Night Shooting
- Charlotte’s Rebounding Was Insane (And Still Not Enough)
- The Bench Battle
- Key Efficiency Stats: The Real Story
- Steals and Defensive Impact
- Player of the Game
- Final Analysis
Quick Score Summary
| Quarter | Charlotte Hornets | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 20 | 30 |
| Q2 | 33 | 29 |
| Q3 | 36 | 31 |
| Q4 | 24 | 28 |
| Final | 113 | 118 |
Cleveland built a big lead early, Charlotte stormed back in the middle quarters, and the Cavs had enough in the fourth to close it out. That is the short version. Now let us get into the actual numbers.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats
| Player | POS | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | G | 32 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 40.9% | 28.6% | 92.3% | -4 |
| Jarrett Allen | C | 26 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 73.3% | N/A | 80.0% | -2 |
| James Harden | G | 18 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 42.9% | 66.7% | 100% | +3 |
| Dennis Schroder | G | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 50.0% | N/A | 100% | +16 |
| Keon Ellis | G | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 100% | N/A | N/A | +19 |
| Dean Wade | F | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 100% | 100% | N/A | -16 |
| Nae’Qwan Tomlin | F | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33.3% | 50.0% | 100% | +4 |
| Thomas Bryant | C/F | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 25.0% | N/A | N/A | +5 |
Cavaliers Team Stats at a Glance
| Stat | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 53.2% |
| 3-Point % | 47.6% |
| Free Throw % | 92.9% |
| Total Rebounds | 45 |
| Assists | 24 |
| Steals | 10 |
| Points in Paint | 50 |
| Bench Points | 24 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 18 |
| Fast Break Points | 8 |
| True Shooting % | 66.1% |
| Effective FG% | 59.7% |
Charlotte Hornets Player Stats
| Player | POS | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG% | 3P% | FT% | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kon Knueppel | F | 33 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 55.0% | 46.7% | 80.0% | +2 |
| LaMelo Ball | G | 18 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 23.5% | 20.0% | 100% | +6 |
| Brandon Miller | G | 18 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 31.6% | 33.3% | 100% | +1 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | C | 12 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 71.4% | N/A | 100% | +12 |
| Josh Green | G | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 42.9% | 33.3% | 100% | -4 |
| PJ Hall | C | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33.3% | N/A | N/A | -13 |
| Tidjane Salaun | F | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.3% | 16.7% | N/A | -15 |
| Tre Mann | G | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25.0% | 100% | N/A | -9 |
| Pat Connaughton | G | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66.7% | 50.0% | N/A | -5 |
Hornets Team Stats at a Glance
| Stat | Charlotte Hornets |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 39.1% |
| 3-Point % | 35.7% |
| Free Throw % | 95.5% |
| Total Rebounds | 52 |
| Assists | 26 |
| Second Chance Points | 37 |
| Points in Paint | 28 |
| Bench Points | 27 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 13 |
| True Shooting % | 55.6% |
| Effective FG% | 50.0% |
Head to Head Team Comparison
| Category | Charlotte Hornets | Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 113 | 118 |
| FG Made / Att | 36/92 | 41/77 |
| FG % | 39.1% | 53.2% |
| 3PM / 3PA | 20/56 | 10/21 |
| 3P% | 35.7% | 47.6% |
| FT Made / Att | 21/22 | 26/28 |
| Total Rebounds | 52 | 45 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 23 | 11 |
| Assists | 26 | 24 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 12 |
| Steals | 5 | 10 |
| Points in Paint | 28 | 50 |
| Second Chance Pts | 37 | 18 |
| Biggest Lead | 4 | 14 |
| True Shooting % | 55.6% | 66.1% |
| Offensive Rating | 121.9 | 130.6 |
| Defensive Rating | 121.9 | 130.6 |
Game Story: How It Actually Played Out
Cleveland came out of the gate swinging. A 30-20 first quarter set the tone and the Cavs looked like they were going to cruise. But Charlotte had other plans.
The Hornets outscored Cleveland in both the second and third quarters, posting a combined 69 points across those two periods compared to Cleveland’s 60. Charlotte used a wild offensive rebounding performance (23 offensive boards on the night) to keep generating extra possessions and stay in the game. Their 37 second chance points is the kind of number that usually wins you a game.
But the Cavs never panicked. Cleveland dominated inside throughout, racking up 50 points in the paint compared to just 28 for Charlotte. When a team shoots 53.2% from the floor and 47.6% from three, they do not need second chances. They are converting the first ones.
The fourth quarter told the final story. Cleveland closed with a 28-24 edge and got the road win.
Donovan Mitchell: Still the Engine
Mitchell finished with 32 points on 9 of 22 shooting, adding 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He went 12 of 13 from the free throw line, which speaks to how aggressively he attacked the rim all night. Nine fouls drawn is elite level pressure on a defense.
His shooting splits were not pretty on paper (40.9% FG, 28.6% from three), but in a close road game where Charlotte was throwing bodies at him all night, Mitchell did what he always does: he found a way to score. The 32 points kept Cleveland’s offense ticking whenever the team needed a bucket in the third quarter when Charlotte was making their run.
Jarrett Allen Was the Real Problem for Charlotte
This one deserves its own section because 26 points on 73.3% shooting with 14 rebounds in a 118-113 road win is a performance that does not get talked about enough.
Allen went 11 for 15 from the floor, grabbed 7 offensive and 7 defensive boards, and converted 83.3% of his second chance opportunities. Charlotte simply had no answer for him in the post. His 20 points in the paint alone is a game-high figure that tells you everything about where Cleveland found its advantage.
For those following Cavaliers big man performances and detailed NBA center stats this season, check out complete head-to-head breakdowns at Match vs Player Stats.
Kon Knueppel: Rookie Statement Game
Forget the loss for a second. 33 points on 55% shooting with 7 threes attempted from a rookie in a competitive NBA game is a big deal.
Knueppel shot 7 of 15 from beyond the arc (46.7%) and was the most efficient high-volume scorer on either team. His 13 second chance points on 8 attempts shows he was not just a spot-up shooter. He was fighting for loose balls and converting. His second chance conversion rate of 62.5% for the game was genuinely impressive.
At a +2 for the game, he was a net positive despite the loss. If the rest of the Hornets roster performs closer to their ceiling, Knueppel’s emergence gives Charlotte a real weapon alongside LaMelo Ball going forward.
LaMelo Ball: Rough Night Shooting
LaMelo finished with 18 points and 6 assists, which sounds okay until you look at the actual shooting line: 4 of 17 from the floor, 2 of 10 from three. He went to the line 8 times and converted all of them, which is the only reason the point total is respectable.
Charlotte’s offense ran through him for stretches, but the 2 of 10 three-point shooting and 2 turnovers made it a tough night overall. The Cavs’ 10 steals as a team and their defensive aggression clearly disrupted his rhythm throughout.
Charlotte’s Rebounding Was Insane (And Still Not Enough)
This is the part of the game that makes you scratch your head.
Charlotte grabbed 52 total rebounds to Cleveland’s 45, including 23 offensive rebounds. Those 23 offensive boards led to 37 second chance points. That is a massive advantage in one specific category.
And they still lost by five.
The reason: Cleveland’s shooting efficiency was just at another level. The Cavs shot 53.2% from the floor and 47.6% from three. When your opponent is converting at that rate, extra possessions only go so far. Charlotte was playing catch-up against a team that simply did not miss very often.
The Hornets’ 39.1% field goal percentage versus Cleveland’s 53.2% is the gap that decided this game more than any individual performance.
The Bench Battle
Cleveland bench: 24 points, with Dean Wade going a perfect 3 for 3 from the floor including 2 made threes (8 pts), and Tomlin chipping in 5 points.
Charlotte bench: 27 points, with Josh Green leading the way at 11 points on 3 of 7 shooting, and Connaughton adding 5 points and 5 rebounds.
The Hornets technically won the bench scoring battle but the margin was not enough to offset their starter shooting inefficiencies. Green’s 11-point effort off the bench gave Charlotte some life, but the bench unit also turned it over too freely and gave Cleveland too many live-ball opportunities in transition.
Key Efficiency Stats: The Real Story
Points, rebounds, and assists tell you what happened. These numbers tell you why.
| Metric | Charlotte | Cleveland |
|---|---|---|
| True Shooting % | 55.6% | 66.1% |
| Effective FG% | 50.0% | 59.7% |
| Offensive Rating | 121.9 | 130.6 |
| Defensive Rating | 130.6 | 121.9 |
| Points Per Possession (Off) | 1.22 | 1.31 |
| Assists to Turnover Ratio | 1.86 | 2.0 |
Cleveland was better in every efficiency category that matters. A 66.1% true shooting percentage is elite territory. The Cavs did not need volume or second chances. They were converting at a rate Charlotte could not replicate regardless of extra possessions.
Steals and Defensive Impact
Cleveland’s 10 steals on the night was a dominant defensive display. Dennis Schroder led all players with 3 steals, and both Mitchell and Keon Ellis each contributed 2. Charlotte’s 14 turnovers directly translated into 18 Cleveland points off turnovers, a meaningful swing compared to Charlotte’s 13 points off turnovers.
Keon Ellis had the best plus/minus on the floor at +19, finishing a perfect 2 of 2 from the field with 3 assists, 2 steals, and 4 rebounds. He did not put up gaudy numbers but his defensive impact was all over the box score in the ways that actually decide close games.
Player of the Game
Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Points | 26 |
| Rebounds | 14 (double-double) |
| FG | 11/15 (73.3%) |
| FT | 4/5 (80.0%) |
| Points in Paint | 20 |
| Second Chance Points | 10 |
| True Shooting % | 75.6% |
| Offensive Rating | 160.5 |
Mitchell gets the headlines with 32 points. But Allen’s 73.3% shooting on 15 attempts while dominating the glass was the single most impactful individual performance in this game. A 75.6% true shooting percentage at that volume is not normal. Charlotte had no answer for him at the rim all night.
Final Analysis
Cleveland went to Charlotte, absorbed a monster second half push, and escaped with a 118-113 win behind 32 from Mitchell and a historically efficient night from Allen. The Cavs’ 50 points in the paint, 53.2% FG shooting, and 10 steals were the three pillars of this road victory.
Charlotte’s 23 offensive rebounds and Knueppel’s 33-point breakout game made this far more competitive than the final margin suggests. This was a genuinely good game. But Cleveland’s shooting efficiency was too high a ceiling for Charlotte to overcome despite their glass domination.
For the complete season-long Cleveland Cavaliers vs Charlotte Hornets match player stats, head-to-head histories, and per-game breakdowns for every player on both rosters, visit matchvsplayerstats.com for everything in one place.
Game played February 20, 2026 | Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC | Final: CLE 118, CHA 113
