The Cleveland Cavaliers have secured their seventh win in nine games, putting them in a good position to be the next Eastern Conference team to claim a spot in the NBA playoffs.
The Cavs defeated the Brooklyn Nets 115-109 at home, with Donovan Mitchell leading the team with 31 points.
The victory brings the Cavaliers to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
This marks the team’s return to the playoffs since their loss in the NBA finals to the Golden State Warriors in 2018, which was LeBron James’ final season in Cleveland.
If the Cavs make the playoffs again this year, it will be their first time doing so without James since 1998.
The game against the Nets saw the Cavaliers take a 24-point lead in the third quarter, thanks to a 23-5 run. Although the Nets made a comeback attempt in the second half, they were unable to catch up to the Cavs.
Other notable performances from the Cavaliers included Caris LeVert’s 18 points, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley’s 17 points each, and Jarrett Allen’s 12 points and 14 rebounds in his return to the court after missing four games due to an eye injury. Ricky Rubio recorded eight points, one assist, and one steal in his 19 minutes of play.
The Nets, who have not won any of their last four games, had Day’Ron Sharpe and Spencer Dinwiddie each record a double-double, with Sharpe tallying 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Dinwiddie finishing with 19 points and 11 assists.
