Na so we dey see am o! Cleveland Cavaliers don officially book their place for NBA playoffs for the fourth year straight. Thursday night inside Chase Center for San Francisco, dem show say dem no dey play with 118-111 win over Golden State Warriors. This victory don confirm say Cavaliers go dey among the teams wey go fight for championship this postseason.
Donovan Mitchell, wey be the main man for Cleveland since 2022, lead the way with 25 points and six rebounds. But na Max Strus wey really do the magic for the last minute. With just 54 seconds remain, Strus shoot one 3-pointer wey seal the win. The guy finish with 24 points total, and him shooting from outside na wetin kill Warriors hope.
James Harden wey Cavaliers bring join team this season contribute 19 points and five assists. Jarrett Allen, even though dem limit him minutes because of knee wahala, still manage to get double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Evan Mobley and Dennis Schroder each add 12 points.
For Warriors side, dem miss Stephen Curry again – na 27th straight game wey the superstar no dey play. But Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski try their best, each score 25 points. Draymond Green break one record for Warriors career rebounding list, but that one no fit stop Cavaliers from winning.
The game no easy at all o! Seven times lead change hand, 11 times score tie. Even for fourth quarter, tension high like pepper. Dennis Schroder foul LJ Cryer hard from behind, referees review am and call am Flagrant 1. Draymond Green push Schroder, make two of them almost fight. Technical fouls fly up and down – Schroder get one, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson get another one.
Warriors use that confusion score 11-1 run, take lead for second half. But Cavaliers no panic. Coach Atkinson call timeout, talk to him players. “I think James Harden and Donovan Mitchell were our compass,” Atkinson talk after game. “They settled us down. We stuck with it, got a few stops, bigs were rebounding, but those guys settled us down.”
After timeout, Cavaliers score four straight points, make score tie again. From there, game dey back and forth until last 15 seconds when Cavaliers increase lead to seven points. Game don finish!
This playoff qualification na big achievement for Cavaliers, especially considering say dem don face disappointment for playoffs before. For 2023, dem lose first round. For 2024, injuries spoil their chance against Boston Celtics. Last year, Indiana Pacers beat dem wella even though Cavaliers win 64 games for regular season.
But Max Strus, even though dem don qualify, say dem no suppose dey too happy. “I don’t know, we shouldn’t be happy about this one,” Strus talk. “This one was, whatever, just a win I guess. We’ll take it. But we gotta figure it out. We gotta be better in all cylinders of the game, all facets of the game.”
Donovan Mitchell, wey never miss playoffs for him career, agree say qualification na “bare minimum.” “This is what we expected,” Mitchell talk. “You’re always grateful, always appreciative of the journey. You celebrate that small victory. But this is the bare minimum and now it’s about how many games we can win, be healthy and go from there.”
For Warriors, dem still dey wait for Stephen Curry return. Coach Steve Kerr talk say Curry don scrimmage 5-on-5 three days straight to test him injured right knee. Decision about when he fit return might come as soon as Friday. Warriors go host Houston Rockets on Sunday night.
Cavaliers now go return home to host Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening. Tipoff na 6 p.m. Playoffs don start for dem mind already, but first dem still get regular season games to play.
The way Cavaliers play this season show say dem dey under radar small. With 48-29 record, worst dem fit finish na with 34 losses. Dem get better record than Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors, so dem no fit finish below sixth position for Eastern Conference.
Coach Atkinson talk say people no suppose underestimate how hard e dey to make playoffs for NBA. “Never underestimate the importance of making the playoffs in the NBA,” Atkinson talk. “In pro sports, it’s so hard, it’s so competitive. Pretty much all of us in that locker room have been on the other side, winning 19 games, 20 games, and it’s hard to be in that group.”
But Cavaliers know say qualification no be the end. Dem want more. Dem want to pass first round. Dem want to go far for playoffs. With Mitchell, Harden, Allen, Mobley, and Strus all dey perform, dem get chance. But playoffs na different ball game entirely. Pressure go increase. Every mistake go cost dem.
For now, Cavaliers fit celebrate small. Fourth straight playoff appearance na achievement wey many teams no fit reach. But as Strus talk, celebration no go last long. Work don start.
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