Cavaliers decimate Bucks reserves to secure 8th seed in play-in tournament

Cleveland Cavaliers take full advantage of resting Bucks

The Cleveland Cavaliers arrested a three-game skid to avoid sliding down further in the standings following a 133-115 regular-season finale victory over an undermanned Milwaukee Bucks team. With the crucial win, the Cavs have clinched the 8th spot in the play-in tournament.

Losers of three consecutive games and in danger of falling to the 9th-10th game, Cleveland benefited from a huge assist from Milwaukee, who decided to rest all of their starters on the final day of the regular season, where all four Eastern Conference play-in teams competed for final seeding.

But the Cavs did not simply coast in this one and played with a real sense of urgency, opening the match with a 14-0 run that eventually led to 46 markers by the end of the first period, tying the franchise record for any points in a quarter. Their lead even ballooned to as much as 40 in the second half.

Kevin Love came off the Cavaliers bench scorching, shooting 8-for-11 from deep to notch a massive double-double of 32 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the only player in the shot clock era to achieve the feat in only 15 minutes of play.

The team’s rising star and NBA Rookie of the Year contender Evan Mobley continued to round into form, partnering up with frontcourt associate Lauri Markannen to tally a combined 41 points, 17 boards, and four blocked shots in the absence of All-Star center Jarrett Allen.

Cavs will now have two cracks at making the Playoffs

What used to be one of the most potent defensive teams in the East earlier in the season continued to relent on that end of the floor, allowing opponents to topple the century scoring mark in 21 out of the 24 games played since after All-Star Weekend.

After holding the Bucks reserves to just 46 points in the first two quarters, the Cavs took their feet off their proverbial necks to allow a massive Milwaukee spurt in the second half. That concern should be addressed if the team is to make a legitimate postseason run.

Now a full game ahead of both the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Hornets following the win, the Cavaliers still face the tall task of knocking down the superstar-laden Brooklyn Nets in the 7th-8th play-in game. If the Cavs fall to the Brooklyn Nets, they will have another chance to advance by facing the winner of the Atlanta-Charlotte showdown.

Despite all the hardships, the Cleveland Cavaliers successfully ended their regular season campaign with an impressive jump to a 44-38 record and will look to continue forging ahead against an imposing Nets team in the first match of the play-in tournament on April 12.