The Charlotte Hornets visit the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday, in the first game of a home-and-home series between these Eastern Conference foes.

The Hornets (17-53) saw their losing streak extended to four Saturday after a crushing 132-92 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Hornets are now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, and it has been a disappointing season for a team budding with young talent like LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges and 2023 third-overall pick Brandon Miller. For his part, Miller has cemented himself on the First-Team All-Rookie ballot, averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 31.9 minutes per game this season. One silver lining for the Hornets is that they keep their lottery-protected 2024 first-round by virtue of missing the playoffs.

JT Thor (shoulder) is questionable for Monday’s contest. Ball (ankle), Mark Williams (back) and Bryce McGowens (knee) have all been ruled out.

Meanwhile the Cavaliers (43-28) are 3-7 over their last 10 games, and as a result have toppled out of contention for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They sit in third place in the East, 2.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks, and just half a game ahead of the New York Knicks. Cleveland was able to overcome injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley earlier in the season, but the team has not been able to replace the production of All-Star Donovan Mitchell, who has missed 10 of the team’s last 12 games due to a knee injury and nasal fracture. The Cavaliers need Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill or another player to step into a larger role to help make a late-season push to the second seed in the East.

Dean Wade (knee) and Max Strus (knee) are both listed as questionable for Monday’s game.

Monday’s contest is the first of three games between the Hornets and Cavaliers this season. Cleveland won the 2022-23 season series, 3-1, and have won five of the last seven matchups against Charlotte.