Cavaliers first team to clinch NBA playoff spot

03-06-2009 | AFP

Celtics and Cavs fight for the best record in the league and playoff edge

Panama Star With six weeks remaining in the regular season, the Cavaliers and Boston Celtics have already secured their places in the Eastern Conference title chase, they fight for the best record in the league and a home-court playoff edge.

The Cavaliers (48-12) and Celtics (48-14) meet Friday 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, 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, connected on only 28-of-75 and committed 18 turnovers.

Milwaukee fell to 29-34 to stay in the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with New Jersey and Chicago close behind.

Cleveland was back 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.