1 week Ago By Associated Press
CLEVELAND — 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 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025, PH time). 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 Coby White, who is averaging team highs of 20.7 points and 33.3 minutes, was rested.
Coach Billy Donovan expressed concern “with the load Coby has had to endure,” but expects White to play in the final three regular-season games. Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell did not dress for precautionary reasons after spraining his left ankle Sunday against Sacramento. Coach Kenny Atkinson said Mitchell will be good to go for the playoffs, but may sit out additional games.
Garland made four 3-pointers in eight minutes during the second quarter, triggering a 41-21 run that allowed the Cavaliers to push their lead to 21 points. Cleveland made 10 3-pointers in the period. Elsewhere, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-100, Orlando Magic turned back Atlanta Hawks 119-112, Brooklyn Nets defeated New Orleans Pelicans 119-114, Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 119-117 in overtime, Milwaukee Bucks defeated Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103, Oklahoma City Thunder topped Los Angeles Lakers 136-120, Golden State Warriors cruised past Phoenix Suns 133-95, Los Angeles Clippers slid past San Antonio Spurs 122-117, and the Indiana Pacers beat the Washington Wizards 104-98.
/ AP.
