The Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to clinch a place in the NBA play-offs after a hard-fought 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Despite trailing by seven points in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers mounted a late surge to secure their 12th consecutive win. With 20 regular-season games still remaining, Cleveland has now assured its post-season berth.
"This was an expectation," Donovan Mitchell said. "Is it great that we did it in March? Yeah. But this is the bare minimum for us. Now it's, can we be the one seed?"
The Cavs also became the only team besides the Mavericks from 2006-07 season to win 12 straight in a single season.
The night also marked an emotional return for former Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, who was honoured with a video tribute and a standing ovation from the home crowd. Love, now with Miami, acknowledged the moment by pointing to his ring finger in a nod to Cleveland’s 2016 championship triumph.
The Cavaliers started strong, scoring 36 points in the first quarter and building a 17-point lead in the second. However, Miami responded with a 13-0 run and kept pace through the second half. Heat centre Bam Adebayo, who finished with a season-high 34 points, led an 18-7 Miami run in the fourth quarter to put his team up by seven.
Miami’s zone defence disrupted Cleveland’s offence, but head coach Kenny Atkinson made key in-game adjustments. He utilised De’Andre Hunter in the high post to create open looks, while Mitchell and Darius Garland took control late in the game. Mitchell scored eight of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, while Garland contributed six assists in the final period.
Cleveland’s defence locked in when it mattered most, forcing six straight stops to close the game. Max Strus, a former Heat player, played a pivotal role, hitting crucial three-pointers and forcing Duncan Robinson to step out of bounds on a potential game-tying shot.
With the win, the Cavaliers remain on track to claim the Eastern Conference title and a top-seed spot in the play-offs as they chase their second NBA championship.
The Cavaliers face the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. Eastern.
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