The Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2025 NBA Playoffs after battling to a gritty 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 26 points, guiding Cleveland to its 12th straight win and extending the team’s dominant run atop the Eastern Conference standings.
It was far from smooth sailing for the Cavaliers, who found themselves trailing by seven points late in the fourth quarter. The short-handed Heat, missing key players Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez Jr., pushed the Eastern leaders to the brink before Cleveland’s resilience and defensive intensity in the closing minutes flipped the script.
Mitchell was one of six Cavaliers to score in double figures, showcasing Cleveland’s depth. Evan Mobley contributed a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Darius Garland chipped in 15 points and 10 assists.
The Heat’s Bam Adebayo delivered a standout performance, pouring in a game-high 34 points, but Miami’s depleted lineup ultimately fell short against Cleveland’s well-rounded attack.
After the game, Mitchell praised the team effort but acknowledged the need for improvement. “It took a collective effort as a group but we locked down and got stops – but we’ve got to be better,” Mitchell said. “It’s always good to learn through a win though.”
While becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot is an achievement, Mitchell downplayed its significance. “It’s definitely a blessing and a sign of our hard work, but it doesn’t really mean much,” he said. “I’m happy we were able to do it for the crowd, but we’ve got a lot more to accomplish.”
Cleveland’s record now stands at an impressive 52-10, keeping them firmly ahead of the Boston Celtics, who sit eight games back after their own high-scoring victory over Portland.
In Boston, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard both erupted for career nights, scoring 41 and 43 points respectively to lead the Celtics to a 128-118 win over the Trail Blazers. Pritchard’s sharpshooting was particularly remarkable, as he drained 10 three-pointers.
“The way those two played says a lot about who they are,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They do a lot of the dirty work. So to have a night like this where those two can show what they’re capable of was good for us.”
Out west, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 41-point explosion powered the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Memphis Grizzlies, 120-103. The win moved OKC to 51-11, firmly atop the Western Conference standings.
The Denver Nuggets also clawed their way to a 116-110 victory over Sacramento, with Russell Westbrook leading the way with 25 points. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks strengthened their fourth-place standing in the East with a dominant 137-107 win over Dallas, led by Damian Lillard’s 34 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 32.
In Charlotte, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels each scored 29 points to lead Minnesota to a 125-110 victory over the Hornets.
As the playoff picture begins to take shape, the Cavaliers’ star power and depth puts them firmly in contention for a deep postseason run — but as Mitchell made clear, the real work is only just beginning.
