Cavaliers Beat Bulls to Seal Top Spot in East: Cleveland Claims Home Advantage as Playoffs Loom

Cavaliers Beat Bulls and Clinch the East: Garland’s 38 Points Fire Up Title Ambitions

For a team that’s been knocking on the door all season long, the Cleveland Cavaliers just kicked it open.

With a blistering 135-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls, the Cavaliers officially locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference, sending a clear message to the rest of the NBA ahead of the playoffs: Cleveland is not here to make up the numbers. They’re here to win.

This win, their 63rd of the season, wasn’t just another tick in the W column—it was a statement, a celebration, and perhaps, a sign of things to come. As the buzzer sounded at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cavs’ locker room erupted. The job’s not done yet, but this milestone was worth toasting.

“You celebrate these moments,” said head coach Kenny Atkinson, who’s done an outstanding job steering this group through patches of turbulence. “It’s hard to win 63 games in this league, and it’s even harder to be the first seed. This group earned every bit of this. Now, we stay hungry.”

Garland Leads the Charge as Cavaliers Beat Bulls in Style

At the heart of Cleveland’s high-octane win was Darius Garland. The 24-year-old point guard dropped a season-high 38 points, showcasing his full offensive arsenal. Whether it was driving into the lane, pulling up from deep, or hitting defenders with nasty crossovers, Garland was in full control.

Garland’s growth has been a focal point for the Cavaliers this season. As Donovan Mitchell has battled through occasional injury spells and defensive schemes targeting him, Garland has consistently risen to the occasion. Against the Bulls, he was relentless.

The Cavaliers opened up a 15-point lead in the first quarter and never really looked back. With Evan Mobley dominating the boards, Jarrett Allen throwing down thunderous dunks, and Max Strus spreading the floor, the Cavs looked like a well-oiled machine—at exactly the right time of year.

The Bulls, for all their effort, simply had no answers. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine combined for 45 points, but their defense couldn’t cope with Cleveland’s fluid ball movement and efficient shot-making.

Home Court Advantage in the East? Cleveland’s Got It

By clinching the top seed, Cleveland now has home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs—a massive boost, especially given their strong record at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

At 34-6 at home this season, the Cavs have turned their arena into one of the league’s toughest environments. Come playoff time, that could be the difference between surviving and advancing or going home early.

What makes this season’s success even more impressive is how Cleveland rebounded from a shaky March. With a few slip-ups and close losses, the team looked momentarily wobbly. But they gathered themselves when it mattered most, finishing strong and peaking just in time.

Elsewhere in the League: Doncic Ejected as Thunder Beat Lakers

While the Cavaliers were celebrating in Cleveland, drama unfolded in Los Angeles.

Luka Dončić’s night ended early in the fourth quarter during the Mavericks’ 136-120 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Slovenian star was ejected after receiving his second technical foul, with officials alleging verbal abuse—though Dončić insisted his words were directed at a heckling fan, not the referee.

“It was nothing to do with the ref, so I didn’t really understand it,” Dončić said postgame. “That’s on me too. I can’t let my team down like that.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stole the spotlight, pouring in 42 points for OKC. The Thunder, who have already secured the top spot in the Western Conference, looked like a team with title aspirations of their own.

Playoff Picture Tightens: Lakers, Clippers, Warriors Jockey for Position

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The playoff race in the West remains a white-knuckle ride.

The Los Angeles Lakers now find themselves needing two wins from their final three regular-season games to secure the third seed. A shaky outing against the Thunder didn’t help, but there’s still time to stabilize before the playoffs begin.

Nipping at their heels are the LA Clippers, who picked up a fifth consecutive win by outlasting the San Antonio Spurs 122-117. That result leaves the Clippers locked in a four-way tie at 47-32 with the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies—but it’s the Clippers who currently hold fourth spot thanks to NBA tiebreaker rules.

The Warriors delivered the most emphatic win of the night, blowing out the Phoenix Suns 133-95. They looked like the championship-caliber squad fans know and fear when everything clicks. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies strengthened their position with a commanding 124-100 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

As it stands, the Warriors hold the sixth and final automatic playoff spot. The Grizzlies, at seventh, would need to navigate the Play-In Tournament if they hope to earn a postseason berth.

Looking Ahead: Can Cleveland Capitalize?

Cavaliers beat Bulls seal top spot in East

So what does it all mean for Cleveland?

Clinching the number one seed gives them a clear path—on paper, at least. But the Eastern Conference is no cakewalk. Boston, Milwaukee, Miami, and Philadelphia all loom large. The Cavs will need their stars to stay healthy and their supporting cast to keep firing.

But if the team that beat the Bulls shows up in the postseason—locked in on defense, crisp on offense, and driven by purpose—there’s no reason why Cleveland can’t dream big.

Garland’s breakout performance, Mitchell’s postseason pedigree, Mobley’s all-around brilliance, and Allen’s interior presence form a core that can compete with anyone. Throw in Atkinson’s experience and the electric home crowd, and Cleveland might just be primed for a deep playoff run.

Atkinson summed it up best: “We’re proud of what we’ve done—but we’re not satisfied. This is just the beginning.”

And with that, the East belongs to Cleveland.