Cavaliers clinch playoff spot with win over Bucks

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer Mar 4, 10:59 pm EST

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CLEVELAND (AP)—There was no celebration, no champagne, nothing really to signify the win’s importance. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the playoffs and hardly cared.

“We got one goal,” LeBron James said. “That’s to win an NBA championship.”

James scored 23 points, Delonte West had 13 with a career-high eight steals and the Cavaliers became the first team to clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs by beating the Milwaukee Bucks 91-73 on Wednesday night in a potential first-round series preview.

At 48-12, the Cavaliers wrapped up their fourth straight postseason berth with more than one month left in the regular season. But Cleveland seems to be doing everything at an accelerated rate this season. The Cavs moved 36 games over. 500 for the first time, improved their league-best home record to 27-1 and stayed in step with the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed in the East and the crucial home-court advantage that goes with it.

For James, the postseason was a given.

“We knew we were going to make the playoffs,” he said. “If we didn’t make the playoffs, that would be a disaster for us.”

Mo Williams scored 15 against his former team and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 14 for Cleveland, which lowered its magic for winning the Central Division to six.

Richard Jefferson scored 29 for the Bucks, currently clinging to the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee was held to a season-low 73 points and 37 percent shooting by the Cavs, who are holding opponents to 88 points on their home floor.

“They played better than us in almost all areas,” Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles said. “It wasn’t that we didn’t play hard, but they played harder than us.”

Cleveland swept the four-game season series between the teams, who could meet again in April with more at stake.

“That’s a long ways away,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said.

Milwaukee was still within striking distance late in the third quarter, but Wally Szczerbiak hit a 3-pointer and James followed with one of his own as the Cavs, who seemed uninterested for long stretches, carried a 14-point lead into the fourth.

The Bucks fought back and closed within 10 when James, who scored 55 in the last meeting between the clubs, dropped a step-back 3-pointer over Luc Mbah a Moute in the deep corner near Milwaukee’s bench to make it 81-68 with 6:45 left. James paused to admire his make before heading down the floor.

The Cavs ripped off eight more points in a 13-0 spurt to push their lead to 21 before James was pulled for some rest in preparation of a Friday night visit to Boston.

Cleveland was back at home following a grueling, four-games-in-five-nights road trip during which the Cavs went 3-1 against Houston, San Antonio, Atlanta and Miami—all likely playoff teams. Cleveland had to rally to win the last two games, and overcame lengthy travel delays en route to South Florida.

The Cavs didn’t have to work nearly as hard against the Bucks.

“It shows the strength of this team and the maturity level that we have and the professional level that we have,” James said. “We know that it was a long road trip and these are some of the games that can trap you.”

As he was being stretched out by a trainer on the locker room floor before tipoff, James, Williams and teammate Tarence Kinsey watched the video of James’ 55-point performance against the Bucks on Feb. 20. James seemed to recall every dribble, pass and shot and was most impressed by his 24-point, third-quarter explosion.

“That’s the best quarter I’ve ever seen,” he said.

There would be no encore for James, who attempted just 11 shots in 33 minutes.

Ahead by just three points in the second quarter, the Cavaliers went on a 9-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from James and opened a 48-39 halftime lead.

Jefferson kept the Bucks close all by himself as he scored 17 points in the opening half.

Notes

West came within two steals of tying the franchise record held by Ron Harper (1987). … The Cavs are expected to officially sign F Joe Smith on Thursday. Smith, who played in 27 games for Cleveland last season, recently bought his contract from Oklahoma City for a chance to play with a title contender. He has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Cavs. … It’s been a record-setting season for Cleveland, which has won just one division title in its less-than-spectacular 39-year hoops history. James was asked if he was surprised there has been so few crowns in his lifetime. “There’s a lot of stuff that’s happened around here this year that’s hasn’t happened since I was born,” James said. “It’s always nice to make history.” …The Cavs will play 10 home games in March, including eight of their last nine. … Jefferson has made 31 straight free throws.

Updated Mar 4, 10:59 pm EST
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67 Comments

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  1. marvin h
    67. Posted by marvin h Sat Mar 7 11:01am EST

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    “We got one goal,” LeBron James said. “That’s to win an NBA championship.” and only put in 21!!!! against the team they must beat to get there.
  2. Sony Jose
    66. Posted by Sony Jose Sat Mar 7 6:09am EST

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    Cleveland Rocks!!
  3. <i>iipokerface</i>
    65. Posted by iipokerface Thu Mar 5 10:09pm EST

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    congrats LBJ, i think rondo is better than marbury but he can be a good sub. cleveland should have snatch marbury bec d only lacking in cleveland is a true PG(pt gard). Yeah LBJ had done a good job as a fake PG, but he can be demi god if he is SF(smol 4ward)
  4. LeMaR
    64. Posted by LeMaR Thu Mar 5 8:49pm EST

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    da CELTICS r da best. east side goes hard.dis iz 4 all u cavs fans and laker fans. were taking the championship again.
  5. Jaymze
    63. Posted by Jaymze Thu Mar 5 6:50pm EST

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    They only clinched because the east sucks ass.
  6. Shaylon
    62. Posted by Shaylon Thu Mar 5 4:44pm EST

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    LAKERS is d BEST. Dis goes out 2 all u HATERS.
  7. alex
    61. Posted by alex Thu Mar 5 4:44pm EST

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    cavs officially sign joe smith
  8. Jim
    60. Posted by Jim Thu Mar 5 4:08pm EST

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    woo woo woo.
  9. tashe
    59. Posted by tashe Thu Mar 5 4:03pm EST

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    lakers beating cavs and celtics in the regular season mean nothing. careful lakers don't lose in the first round. east all the way!!!!!
  10. Rhoe Jaque Swift
    58. Posted by Rhoe Jaque Swift Thu Mar 5 3:56pm EST

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    GO CAVS!

    Dont be jealous (losers with no lives) WE hardly have anything to cheer about (i.g. Stupid Browns, getting rid of K2, WTF!) SCREW YOU MANGIRLIE you spinless donut.

    Anyways sorry for going on a tange.
    GO CAVS!!!
    a month to go, thats just ridikulous!
  11. mathew
    57. Posted by mathew Thu Mar 5 3:19pm EST

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    this is completely stupid, saying u got into the playoffs in the east is like going out with an ugly girl anyone can do it. A highschool team could make the playoffs in the east. take a look at the records of the hawks and the suns they are exactly the same yet the hawks are 4th in the east and the suns are 9th in the west! The Cavs and the Celtics made the playoffs big deal. This article would be alot more interesting if the Cavs and the Celtics did not make the playoffs that would be something to talk about. Plus the author has a total bias I think he should just come out of the closet now and marry Lebron James. The playoff race to watch is in the west. The Jazz have won 9 straight and they have Carlos Boozer back they are going to be a threat and can the suns actually get into the 8th spot? write a better article next time Tom.
  12. mike
    56. Posted by mike Thu Mar 5 2:26pm EST

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    I am from cleveland so i know my boy L.B James is going besides we just pick up more help so GO CAVS ALL THE WAY
  13. alex
    55. Posted by alex Thu Mar 5 2:07pm EST

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    Why is it when people compare lebron and kobe no one ever looks at stats, stats are everything if you want to compare, lebrons are better and he has been in the league less years that kobe "the rapist bryant".
  14. ACC VS BIG EAST
    54. Posted by ACC VS BIG EAST Thu Mar 5 1:42pm EST

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    damien, those asteriks are division leader you dumb a$$. learn some basketball then talk ok?
  15. Mike
    53. Posted by Mike Thu Mar 5 1:42pm EST

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    I am proud of all you CAVS............. West is a hottie!!!
  16. alex
    52. Posted by alex Thu Mar 5 1:13pm EST

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    Have you not seen how many 3s bron has had at a buzzer, any of those could have been game winners
  17. alex
    51. Posted by alex Thu Mar 5 1:10pm EST

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    That was in febuary, that was before bron has hit 10 of his 12 from behind the arc
  18. JONATHANS
    50. Posted by JONATHANS Thu Mar 5 12:57pm EST

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    Copy and paste this link to find out who is the real best clutch player in the NBA: http://www.82games.com/gamewinningshots.htm
  19. alex
    49. Posted by alex Thu Mar 5 12:30pm EST

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    Kobe is a rapist. i hope if you have kids you don't want to look up to kobe bryant rrrrrrrrraaaaaaapppppiiiiiiiissssssssstttttttt.
  20. James
    48. Posted by James Thu Mar 5 11:50am EST

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    cavs is num-one and will rise to the top with king james and as the smoke c lears the cavs will be and i repeat they will be the king of the mountian........... end of story.......
  21. <i>j.dot50cent</i>
    47. Posted by j.dot50cent Thu Mar 5 11:02am EST

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    how is that true & they should play lakers
  22. flash
    46. Posted by flash Thu Mar 5 10:14am EST

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    lakers will do to finals.cav and celtics is in the finals duds
  23. Randy
    45. Posted by Randy Thu Mar 5 8:15am EST

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    Celtics all the way Plus they have Maulberry! Its a done deal!
  24. matt c
    44. Posted by matt c Thu Mar 5 7:52am EST

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    RISE UP...cavs r goin all the way this yaer...kobe cant win a championship without shaq...kobe aint that great...GO CAVS
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Milwaukee
R. Jefferson Richard Jefferson
10-20,  29 Pts
3 Rebs, 0 Assists
 Cleveland
L. James LeBron James
7-11,  23 Pts
8 Rebs, 4 Assists

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