Cavaliers Closing in on Clinching Home Court Advantage for the Opening Round of the Playoffs
This could have been easier. All the Cleveland Cavaliers had to do was beat the New York Knicks on Friday and they'd already have the four seed locked up. Instead, they began the final week of the regular season needing two wins in four games to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
On Sunday night, they checked the first box with a 115-105 win over the Indiana Pacers.
It didn't come easy. After taking a 31-30 lead at the start of the second quarter, Cleveland watched the Pacers go on a 13-2 run and hold the lead until late in the third quarter.
That stretch certainly let the nerves creep in for fans, but as they've done throughout much of the season, when things got tense late, they turned it on. It was their league-leading 14th win when trailing entering the fourth quarter.
Cleveland has its superstar, Donovan Mitchell to thank. Mitchell picked up where he left off Friday night, following up a 42-point effort with just two fewer points tonight. It was his fourth straight 40-plus point game.
The team also felt the effects of Jarrett Allen's return to the floor as he poured in 15 points and seven boards. Evan Mobley was dominant on both ends recording his 24th double-double of the season with 14 and 16. He also registered four blocks.
And while Cleveland's bench woes continued, getting outscored 41-21, Caris LeVert continued to be a spark plug off the pine adding another 15-point night, while dishing out four assists.
Earlier in the evening, Cavs fans were pseudo Wizards fans as they watched Washington flirt win an upset win over the Knicks. In fact, the Wizards actually held an eight-point lead before New York outscored Bradley Beal's group 33-18 in the third quarter and never looked back in a 118-109 win.
Just three games remain in the regular season for the Cavs, who are trying to hold off the Knicks for the four seed. Ironically, the two Eastern Conference foes are on a collision course to meet in the opening round of the playoffs, which makes clinching home court much more crucial for Cleveland.
Fortunately, the Cavs boast the easiest remaining strength of schedule with back-to-back games against Orlando on Tuesday and Thursday, before returning home to face the Hornets in the regular season finale.
New York closes out their regular season slate on the road at Indiana and New Orleans, then hosts Indiana next Sunday.
With the magic number down to one, Cleveland needs just one more win or a Knicks loss to claim the four seed.
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