Cavaliers, Celtics secure playoff berths in the East
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 06, 2009 00:00
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - LeBron James scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Cleveland past Milwaukee 91-73 Wednesday, making the Cavaliers the first team to claim a National Basketball Association playoff spot.
With six weeks remaining in the regular season, the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have already secured their places in the Eastern Conference title chase as they fight for the best record in the league and a home-court playoff edge.
The Cavaliers (48-12) and Celtics (48-14) meet tonight in Boston. Cleveland is approaching the club's single-season record of 57 wins set in 1989 after a fourth win in a row.
LeBron closed the third quarter with a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 14-point lead and the Bucks came no closer than 10 points the rest of the way, Cleveland responding with a 15-0 run to seal the triumph.
The Cavaliers hit just 31-of-74 shots from the field but defensively silenced the Bucks, who connected on only 28-of-75 and committed 18 turnovers.
Milwaukee fell to 29-34 to stay in the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with New Jersey and Chicago close behind.
Meanwhile, Paul Pierce scored 31 points to lead the Celtics past New Jersey 115-111. He sank a jump shot with 20 seconds remaining to give the Celtics a 113-11 lead, evading defender Jarvis Hayes to hit the decider and finish 12-of-14 from the field.
Vince Carter missed a tying layup attempt for the Nets and Boston's Ray Allen sank two free throws to create the final margin, the Celtics completing a 7-0 run to end the game after a Carter 3-pointer put the Nets ahead.
Former Knicks standout Stephon Marbury was greeted with boos in his return to New York as a Celtic.
Marbury signed with Boston after a long dispute with the Knicks saw him sit out until reaching a financial deal with the club and securing his release.
The Dallas Mavericks responded to a stern warning from their owner with an impressive 107-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs also on Wednesday. Josh Howard scored a 29 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 and 12 rebounds to help the Mavericks overcome their Western Conference Southwest Division rivals.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban had earlier criticised the team's effort and threatened to make personnel changes following a 96-87 loss to the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
Dallas showed renewed purpose against Spurs and a late three-pointer from Jason Kidd gave the Mavs a 105-100 edge.
"We know Mark is very vocal and has the right (to be)... he's the owner," Dirk Nowitzki told reporters, after scoring seven points in the final quarter. "Cuban can do whatever he wants."
The Cavaliers (48-12) and Celtics (48-14) meet tonight in Boston. Cleveland is approaching the club's single-season record of 57 wins set in 1989 after a fourth win in a row.
LeBron closed the third quarter with a 3-pointer to give the Cavaliers a 14-point lead and the Bucks came no closer than 10 points the rest of the way, Cleveland responding with a 15-0 run to seal the triumph.
The Cavaliers hit just 31-of-74 shots from the field but defensively silenced the Bucks, who connected on only 28-of-75 and committed 18 turnovers.
Milwaukee fell to 29-34 to stay in the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with New Jersey and Chicago close behind.
Meanwhile, Paul Pierce scored 31 points to lead the Celtics past New Jersey 115-111. He sank a jump shot with 20 seconds remaining to give the Celtics a 113-11 lead, evading defender Jarvis Hayes to hit the decider and finish 12-of-14 from the field.
Vince Carter missed a tying layup attempt for the Nets and Boston's Ray Allen sank two free throws to create the final margin, the Celtics completing a 7-0 run to end the game after a Carter 3-pointer put the Nets ahead.
Former Knicks standout Stephon Marbury was greeted with boos in his return to New York as a Celtic.
Marbury signed with Boston after a long dispute with the Knicks saw him sit out until reaching a financial deal with the club and securing his release.
The Dallas Mavericks responded to a stern warning from their owner with an impressive 107-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs also on Wednesday. Josh Howard scored a 29 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 24 and 12 rebounds to help the Mavericks overcome their Western Conference Southwest Division rivals.
Mavs owner Mark Cuban had earlier criticised the team's effort and threatened to make personnel changes following a 96-87 loss to the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
Dallas showed renewed purpose against Spurs and a late three-pointer from Jason Kidd gave the Mavs a 105-100 edge.
"We know Mark is very vocal and has the right (to be)... he's the owner," Dirk Nowitzki told reporters, after scoring seven points in the final quarter. "Cuban can do whatever he wants."