CAVS RALLY, WIN 12 STRAIGHT
Q4 9:23
LP
Q2 7:42
LP
Q1 9:25
LP
PREGAME
LP
FINAL
LP
FINAL
LP
FINAL
LP
FINAL
LP
THU
MAR 06
107
FINAL
112
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
MIA: Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins, Dru Smith, Nikola Jović, Jaime Jaquez Jr.
CLE: Luke Travers, Emoni Bates, Nae’Qwan Tomlin
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MIAMI HEAT
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25:09 | 2 | 8 | 25.0 | 1 | 5 | 20.0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | |
| 16:20 | 3 | 8 | 37.5 | 1 | 4 | 25.0 | 3 | 4 | 75.0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | -3 | |
| 37:33 | 11 | 18 | 61.1 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 9 | 9 | 100 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 34 | -1 | |
| 40:17 | 3 | 14 | 21.4 | 1 | 8 | 12.5 | 5 | 5 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | -3 | |
| 26:18 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 5 | |
| 27:25 | 5 | 9 | 55.6 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | -13 | |
| 28:59 | 5 | 10 | 50.0 | 4 | 8 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | -13 | |
| 25:52 | 3 | 8 | 37.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | |
| 12:07 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -11 | |
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 36 | 83 | 43.4 | 13 | 36 | 36.1 | 22 | 25 | 88.0 | 9 | 33 | 47 | 29 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 19 | 107 | – | |
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26:00 | 4 | 8 | 50.0 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 5 | |
| 35:31 | 7 | 10 | 70.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 7 | 28.6 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 12 | |
| 25:27 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -12 | |
| 35:40 | 8 | 17 | 47.1 | 4 | 11 | 36.4 | 6 | 7 | 85.7 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 26 | -3 | |
| 31:52 | 5 | 12 | 41.7 | 3 | 9 | 33.3 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 2 | |
| 24:22 | 4 | 12 | 33.3 | 2 | 5 | 40.0 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| 24:08 | 6 | 12 | 50.0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 4 | 4 | 100 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 18 | |
| 15:55 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| 11:02 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -2 | |
| 10:03 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DNP – Coach’s Decision | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTALS | 41 | 87 | 47.1 | 14 | 40 | 35.0 | 16 | 22 | 72.7 | 10 | 37 | 55 | 26 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 19 | 112 | – | |
NBA postseason tracker: Who clinched playoff, play-in spots?
With just over six weeks left in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the playoff picture will soon start to get clearer as teams book their postseason spots.
The top six teams from each conference head to the playoffs, while the No. 7 and No. 8 spots were determined by the play-in tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics for the top seed. In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to clinch the top spot for the second straight season.
Check back as more teams clinch playoff and play-in spots.
JUMP TO: East teams | West teams
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
The Cavs are on target to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since their title-winning season in 2015-16. For the moment, they’ll settle for being the only team team to clinch at least a play-in spot for this postseason.
The Cavs reached the playoffs last season as the No. 4 seed, needing seven games to eliminate the No. 5 seed Orlando Magic in the first round. They were then ousted by the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals in five games.
What they’ve clinched: At least a play-in spot
The Thunder have been at the top of the Western Conference for most of the season, and are looking to make it consecutive seasons in clinching the No. 1 seed.
Last season, they were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Mavericks, who eventually reached the NBA Finals.
Kyrie Irving reflects on his ACL injury and road to recovery on TikTok. (0:42)
MILWAUKEE — Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL a “freak accident” and refuted any perceived connection between the star guard’s increased playing time and the injury.
In the 10 games before Irving was hurt Monday against the Sacramento Kings, he was averaging 39.3 minutes (up from 35.9), the most in the NBA during that span, which began after Dallas’ trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking before Wednesday night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, Kidd said he did not appreciate any connections drawn between Irving’s uptick in playing time and the season-ending injury.
“We’re talking about one play,” he said. “Not many before that. It’s a freak accident, that’s how it should be reported. We’re reporting on conspiracy theories. We want our stars to play. This isn’t supposed to be a rest league.”
Irving had been the Mavs’ most consistent player this season. He was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 36.1 minutes, and had played in 50 of the team’s 62 games. He was selected to his ninth All-Star team in February.
“Kai is our leader,” Kidd said. “Kai also was playing at a high level; maybe some of the best basketball that he’s played in his career. We can’t talk from both sides and say our stars don’t play enough minutes and guys don’t play enough. They rest. But now we’re saying they play too much.”
Dallas already is playing without Anthony Davis, who left his only game with the team on Feb. 8 because of a groin injury. Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Kai Jones also have been out.
Against the Bucks, the Mavericks had only eight healthy players available.
LOS ANGELES — The Lakers’ 40-year-old superstar, LeBron James, became the NBA’s first 50,000-point man Tuesday night.
James came into the Lakers’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans needing a point to reach 50,000 combined points for his career in the regular season and postseason. He reached the milestone on his first shot, connecting on a 3-pointer from the left wing off a Luka Doncic feed to put the Lakers up 13-6 with 8:34 remaining in the first quarter.
During an ensuing timeout, Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter called out the accomplishment, telling the crowd, “Ladies and gentlemen, we all have just witnessed history.”
James finished with 34 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in Los Angeles’ 136-115 win. The Lakers have won 17 of 20 to move into second place in the Western Conference at 39-21.
James is the NBA’s career leader in regular-season and postseason scoring — with 41,871 points in the regular season and 8,162 in the playoffs.
“It’s a hell of a lot of points, and I’m super blessed to be able to put that many points up in the best league in the world with the best players in the world over my career,” James told Spectrum SportsNet in an on-court interview after the game. “It’s pretty special.”
In 28 games since turning 40, James is averaging 26.4 points on 54.1% shooting (42.3% from 3), 8.2 rebounds and 8.1 assists.
James recently shared a graphic on Instagram showing how those averages compare favorably to his last MVP season in 2012-13, when he averaged 26.8 points on 56.5% shooting (40.6% from 3), 8.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists for the Miami Heat.
“I’ve had the opportunity to play the game that I love, and I’ve always been true to it, so I’m going to always try to give back,” James said Tuesday night.
James went 10-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-10 on 3-pointers, shooting better than 50% from the floor for the sixth time in his past seven games. Doncic had 30 points on 9-of-19 shooting (6-of-13 on 3s), 15 assists and 8 rebounds as he and James became the first pair of Lakers teammates to score 30 apiece with five or more 3s in the same game in franchise history.
“It’s amazing,” Doncic said of James. “Watching him do this stuff at this age, it’s just unbelievable. Like, 50K points, I can’t even explain how insane that is. He might get to 70K, you never know.”
The 22-year veteran reached the 50,000-point milestone just hours after being named the Western Conference Player of the Month for February, when he averaged 29.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists and Los Angeles went 10-2.
“We wouldn’t be in the position we’re in without him playing at the level he’s been playing at,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the Pelicans game. “And that’s offensively and defensively.”
Redick also admitted the Lakers wouldn’t be in the position of celebrating James’ 50,000th point Tuesday if the league had properly recorded the points he scored in recent years in some of the new wrinkles to the schedule.
In three play-in tournament games (2021, 2023, 2024), James scored a combined 75 points. Those points have not been added to James’ career playoff total. In the in-season tournament championship game in 2023, James scored 24 points. Those points are not reflected in his regular-season career total either.
“I have a strong feeling towards the play-in tournament, that those little one-game scenarios are playoff games,” Redick said. “I think those games should count, for sure, in the playoffs.”
While the 70,000-point bar that Doncic set for James might be out of reach, the Lakers’ elder statesmen did discuss what’s allowed him to stay competing at the level he’s been at for so long.
“Just not falling out of love with the process,” James said. “Continuing to fall in love with the process, that’s the hardest thing, every single year. You know it’s going to be a long season. It’s 82 games, 41 of them are on the road. It’s a lot of travel. And as you get older, it affects you even differently. If you have a family, it affects you even differently. So the process. Trying not to fall out of love with the process is the hardest thing.”
ESPN
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Cleveland Cavaliers
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Oklahoma City Thunder
EDITOR’S PICKS
Mavericks’ Irving has torn ACL, out rest of season
14hShams Charania
SVP’s One Big Thing: Luka, Kyrie and the evaporation of the Dallas Mavericks
9hScott Van Pelt
Kyrie’s season-ending injury further complicates the West play-in picture
1dKevin Pelton
EDITOR’S PICKS
LeBron James’ 50,000 points tops list of sports’ most unbreakable records
7hESPN staff
Introducing Net Points! The latest NBA metric and its amazing early findings
1dDean Oliver
NBA Power Rankings: Where the Lakers and the fast-climbing Pistons land in the top 10
8hNBA insiders
Cavs vs. Heat: preview, odds, injury report, TV
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs are 48 minutes away from officially stamping their ticket to the playoffs.
With a win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night at Rocket Arena, the Cavs will lock in a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference, ensuring they avoid the volatility of the Play-In Tournament and keep their focus on the bigger picture: a championship.
At 51-10, Cleveland has established itself as one of the NBA’s elite this season, flexing a resilience that has defined its latest surge. The Cavs have strung together their third 11-game win streak of the campaign, and if recent history is any indication, they don’t flinch in the face of adversity.
In each of their last three outings, they’ve clawed back from deficits of at least 15 points, proving they can take a punch, reset, and deliver a knockout blow.
Miami, on the other hand, is fighting for its playoff life.
The Heat (29-31) sit just outside the guaranteed top-six spots in the East. Although they’re known to make it through the postseason tournament, now without Jimmy Butler on their roster, the Heat could hope to avoid the uncertainty of the Play-In.
But desperation alone doesn’t win games. The Heat have dropped seven of their last 10, struggling to generate consistent offense since the departure of Jimmy Butler. Not to mention the absence of Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr., who are both sidelined with ankle injuries.
For Cleveland, the team’s timing of surging has all been a part of the plan since the beginning.
Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, who have strategically been given nights off in recent games, are expected to be available, providing the Cavs their full arsenal in a game that could bolster their chances of locking the No. 1 seed in the East and home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
But this Cavs team has grown beyond the need for comfort. They can win fast. They can win slow. They can win in a shootout or a grind-it-out slugfest.
Here’s what to know about the matchup:
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
Series: Final matchup of the regular season.
Where: Rocket Arena
When: 7:00 p.m. ET.
The point spread: Cavs minus-10.5; O/U 226.5
TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio
CAVS:
Not yet reported to the NBA.
Heat:
Out:
Josh Christopher (two-way); Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle); Nikola Jovic (hand); Dru Smith (Achilles); Kel’el Ware (knee); Andrew Wiggins (ankle).
Questionable:
Davion Mitchell (quad); Isaiah Stevens (two-way).
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