05 March,2009 11:28 AM IST | | AFP
LeBron James scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Cleveland past Milwaukee 91-73 yesterday, 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 tomorrow night 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 Confernece playoff spot with New Jersey and Chicago close behind.
