File this under formality: The Cavaliers have clinched a spot in the NBA playoffs.
In a game beginning on April 2 but ending on April 3 Eastern time, the Cavs prevailed 118-111 on the road against the Golden State Warriors.
The Cavs (48-29) joined the Detroit Pistons (56-21), Boston Celtics (51-25) and New York Knicks (49-28) as the Eastern Conference teams to secure playoff berths thus far.
Who do the Cavs play in the first round of the playoffs?
The Cavs are in fourth place in the East and likely to finish there after playing their final five regular-season games. In case it becomes relevant, the third-place Knicks own the head-to-head tiebreaker (2-1 in the season series) against the Cavs. The top four teams are guaranteed home-court advantage in the first round.
The Cavs entered April 3 positioned to become the fourth seed and face the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks (44-33) in Round 1.
The top six teams in each conference at the end of regular season automatically qualify for the playoffs. The teams placing seventh through 10th compete in the Play-In Tournament for the final two playoff seeds.
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The Play-In Tournament is slated to run from April 14-17. The playoffs are set to begin April 18.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent playoff history
This is the fourth consecutive season in which the Cavs have made the playoffs.
Here are the results from their previous three playoff appearances:
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers clinch berth in NBA playoffs with win at Warriors
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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