CLEVELAND CAVALIERS CLINCH THE #1 SEED AFTER CRUSHING THE BULLS; DARIUS GARLAND FINDS HIS 3PT SHOT
The Cleveland Cavaliers magic number entering Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls was just one.
One win or one Celtics loss and the race for the #1 seed in the East would be over. The Cavs, who already have 60 wins on the season, would be regular season East champs.
Donovan Mitchell missed the game against the Bulls after injuring his ankle against the Kings on Sunday. Darius Garland is looking to snap out of his shooting slump with Mitchell sidelined.
Donovan Mitchell will sit out the Cleveland Cavaliers’ game against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night after the All-Star guard sprained his left ankle during the second half of Sunday’s game against Sacramento.
Mitchell stepped on the foot of Sacramento’s Keon Ellis near midcourt before losing his balance and rolling his left ankle. The 6-foot-3 guard was writhing in pain while being tended to by trainers before limping to the locker room.
Mitchell eventually returned after sitting out nearly seven minutes of game action. He played the final 15:02 of the Cavaliers’ 120-113 loss. He was limping around the locker room after the game.
“I want to get the 1 seed and go from there. If I’m able to go, I’m able to go,” said Mitchell, who had 19 points in the loss. “A little hobbled after the first adrenaline rush or probably the first five to 10 minutes. But I’m trying to win and help my team win any way possible.
“I’m not going to assess the future until we figure out what’s ahead. I’m going to be smart and figure it out when it gets to it.”
Mitchell leads the Cavaliers in scoring, averaging 24 points. He is the only player in the league averaging at least 24 points in 32 minutes or less.
Mitchell has sat out only four games this season because of injury, including three last month because of left groin soreness.
Cleveland has a 62-16 record and needs one more win or a Boston loss to wrap up the best record in the Eastern Conference for the fourth time in franchise history.
Darius Garland scored 28 points, Evan Mobley had 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 135-113 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
Ty Jerome added 18 points off the bench and De’Andre Hunter scored 17 for Cleveland, which has the second-best record in franchise history at 63-16. The Cavaliers secured the No. 1 seed in the East for the fourth time.
Patrick Williams scored a season-high 21 points and made 5 of 6 3-pointers, and Matas Buzelis added 19 points for Chicago. The Bulls have clinched a play-in tournament berth and are tied with Miami for ninth in the East.
Chicago’s top five scorers were not in uniform, including Coby White (rest), Nikola Vucevic (right calf soreness) and Josh Giddey (right forearm). Lonzo Ball (right wrist sprain) also was not available.
10 Comments
GO CAVS #BELIEVELAND
Let’s slow down. The 3 point shots were going in for everyone tn on Cavs. They’ve been off on 3s since all star break. I’m still nervous for playoffs if they take a ton of 3s. Don’t trust our 3 point shot making at all rn
I hope it's not a repeat of last year. Barely get past time 1st round then get waxed the 2nd. Reviewing Garlands shots was so cringe. 😂
Jason looks like he had a ruff night and just rolled out of bed 😂😂
First of all this team is coached at a much better level than last year. Second, they are hungry. Last year they were just to get from under the bad loss to the Knicks in the previous playoffs. DG is in a much better place and Evan is not the same. This is a team that has played that way all year. Other teams will be worn down from playing such high minutes. The CAVS will be fine
hunter jerome and wade. the only bench players i wanna see this playoffs.
That game had me fuming. Cavs were playing essentially the summer league Bulls and let them go on a 21-4 run making a 27+ lead vanish to single digits. Im glad they recovered and put the Bulls back in their place. However, my fear is that if the Cavs play the basketball they’ve played since the All-Star break, we are a possible second round exit.
But, if they play like the team from before the break, the Cavs are literally unbeatable. I truly hope they make these plays some of the most exciting and competitive in years.
Jason, really how can you discount what he felt or what his reality is! You know where you believe it or not he believed that someone around him lacked confidence in him. I wish you talking heads would just stick to the facts not your speculations.
U can study 2 potential teams that u might play from the play -in
Defender is a little taller, don't think it matters. He's just moody in my opinion