Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched No.1 seeding in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs on Tuesday after cruising past the Chicago Bulls 135-113. Darius Garland led the scoring with 28 points in a balanced offensive performance from the Cavs, who improved to 63-16 to ensure they will finish the regular season on top of the East. The victory ensures Cleveland will have home advantage when the playoffs get under way next week following the completion of the regular season campaign on Sunday.
“It feels good, especially to do it at home,” Garland said of clinching the top seeding. “Now the playoffs go through us — we’ve got home court advantage.” Addressing Cleveland’s fans, Garland added: “We’re just getting started. Y’all just enjoy the ride. We’re going to be here for a long time.”
Related news
Garland was one of five Cleveland players to post double figures, with Evan Mobley adding 21 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists and Ty Jerome chipping in with 18 off the bench. After a flurry of lead changes early in the first quarter, Cleveland took control of the game with a 43-point second quarter to open up a 68-48 half-time advantage at the Rocket Arena. They kept a double-digit cushion for most of the second half, opening up a 27-point lead at one stage before a Chicago rally trimmed the deficit to eight points with just over two minutes remaining in the third.
But any Chicago hopes of a sustained turnaround in the fourth quarter evaporated as Cleveland reeled off a quick burst of scoring to jump back out to a 23-point advantage. “You celebrate these moments,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I think the guys are super happy in that locker room. We’ve had some ups and downs this past month, but I’m really proud of the guys. It’s hard to win 63 games in this league, and it’s hard to be the first seed. So, great accomplishment. We’re hungry for more.”
© 2024 AFP
