Cleveland Cavaliers enters NBA playing game with victory over Miami Heat | Basketball news

Cavs maintains their 12-match undefeated strip and becomes the first team to order a place during the NBA post season.

Cleveland Cavaliers has turned their ticket to NBA playoffs with a hard-fought 112-107 win over Miami Heat thanks to 26 points from Donovan Mitchell.

A saw-saw match in Cleveland on Wednesday saw the heat that threatened to end the Cavs ’11 game undefeated strip after opening a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, but Cavs itched the deficit back in the final minutes to seal their 12. Just victory and somewhere in the post season.

Cavaliers improved their record for 52 wins and 10 losses, maintaining their choking team at the Eastern Conference with 20 games in the regular season back.

Mitchell was one of six Cleveland players who ended in double against a short-handed Miami team missing Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Evan Mobley supported Mitchell with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Darius Garland ended with 15 points and 10 assists. BAM Adebayo led Miamis scores with a game-high 34 points.

However, the victory was too close to the comfort of Cleveland Talisman Mitchell.

“It required a collective effort as a group, but we locked ourselves and got a stop – but we need to be better,” Mitchell said. “However, it is always good to learn through a win.”

Mitchell played the importance of Cleveland becoming the first team to reach the season.

“It’s definitely a blessing and a sign of our hard work, but it doesn’t really mean much,” Mitchell said. “I’m glad we were able to do it for the crowd, but we have much more to accomplish.”

Wednesday’s last score

Donovan Mitchell leader @cavs to their 12. Just victory when they become the first team that squeezes their place in #Nbaplayoffs Presented by Google!

EVAN MOBLEY: 16 points, 13 rope
De’Andre Hunter: 16 points, 5 ropes
Darius Garland: 15 points, 10 ast pic.twitter.com/na9zzldmry

– NBA (@nba) 6 March 2025

Celtics keeps pace

Cleveland’s closest pursuers, Boston Celtics, drifted past the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118 after a sensational pair of 40-point performances from Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.

White ended with 41 points, while Pritchard broke out in 43 and delivered a shooting Masterclass that included 10 three-Pointers from 16 attempts.

“They were huge,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said about White and Pritchard’s double act. “The way these two played say a lot about who they are.

“They do a lot of the dirty work. So having an evening like this where these two can show what they are capable of was good for us.

“We are lucky to have them, and it’s a lot of fun to see them do it.”

Celtics improved to 44-18 with the victory and are eight matches behind leaders Cleveland.

At the western conference, Oklahoma City Thunder, closer to a playoff quay after waving past Memphis Grizzlies 120-103 on the back of a 41-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Oklahoma City improved to 51-11 and now led the West with 11 games from the second placed Los Angeles Lakers.

In Denver, the nuggets fought back from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter to score a 116-110 defeat of Sacramento Kings.

Russell Westbrook led Denver’s scorers by 25 points, while Jamal Murray added 24 and Nikola Jokic 22.

Elsewhere, Milwaukee Bucks held their persecution of the eastern conference’s front trunners with a 137-107 drubbing of Dallas Mavericks.

Damian Lillard led the Bucks scoring with 34 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo ended with 32 points. Bucks improved to 36-25 for the season and remain fourth at the eastern conference.

In Charlotte, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels scored 29 points per year.