Cavaliers clinch first playoff berth since 2018

The Cleveland Cavaliers clinched a spot in the 2023 NBA Playoffs with a 108-91 win over the Rockets on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
• The postseason berth is Cleveland’s first since 2018.
• It also marks the franchise’s first playoff berth without LeBron James since 1998.
• The Cavaliers improved to 48-28 with the win and currently sit in fourth place in the East.

How the Cavs got here

This has been a step in the making. After the Cavs surprised many around the league last season with their three-big lineup and jumped out in the Eastern Conference, they fell off towards the end of the season due to injuries, and lost both Play-In games to have their season cut short. Many thought that they had a chance last season to make the playoffs through the Play-In.

So, after a summer where many of the players put in individual work, and the Cavs pulled off the blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell, it was the new expectation that they would reach the playoffs. And throughout the season, they have shown why they are a playoff team. They play their style of basketball, built on the defensive end of the floor, as well as play unselfishly offensively. They have had their ups and downs throughout the season but have taken the necessary steps forward. This was an expected step for the Cavs this season, but an important one as they moved past the rebuild and look ahead. — Russo

The Cavs have bigger goals in mind. While they are taking this moment to celebrate and acknowledge that they officially made the playoffs, they have their eyes set on more. There is a belief among the group that over time, they have the potential to take this group far in the playoffs. This playoff experience this season will be important for their young core who don’t have playoff experience — outside of Mitchell and Jarrett Allen in their starting lineup, the rest have not been to the playoffs before. Gaining that experience is an important step for this group to take them to the next level. — Russo

Cleveland entered Sunday needing a win or a Brooklyn Nets loss to secure a spot in the 2023 NBA postseason and got both. Allen’s 24 points and 14 rebounds and Mitchell’s 22 points (4-of-9 3-pt FG) powered the Cavaliers past Houston for their fourth straight victory. The team has now won eight of its last 10 with six games remaining on its regular-season schedule.

The Cavaliers have not seen postseason action since facing off against Golden State in four straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018. Their lone NBA title came in 2016 when they defeated the Warriors in seven games.
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