Cavaliers clinch playoff spot with 108-91 win over Rockets
CLEVELAND (AP) For the first time since LeBron James left them a second time, the Cavaliers are a playoff team again.
Jarrett Allen scored 24 points and had 14 rebounds, Donovan Mitchell added 22 points and the Cavs clinched a postseason spot for the first time since 2018, beating the Houston Rockets 108-91 on Sunday night.
After James left five years ago, the Cavs went through a massive rebuild while enduring coaching changes, a pair of 19-win seasons and just missing the postseason last year before finally getting back.
“It was a winding road to get here,” said Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Along with ending the five-year drought, Cleveland has also returned to the playoffs without James on its roster for the first time since 1998.
“That’s crazy that that’s the stat or whatever,” said center Evan Mobley, who was born in 2001. “I’m just here trying to win the most I can, and I guess that’s a big deal for a lot of people.”
The Cavs, who made it to four straight Finals with James from 2015-18, are closing in on locking up the No. 4 spot - and home-court advantage in the first round - in the Eastern Conference. They've won 9 of 11.
Mobley added 19 points and Darius Garland 17 for Cleveland, which after making the play-in tournament last season, signaled it was ready to compete for a championship when it traded for Mitchell in September.
Following the game, the All-Star guard Mitchell told his teammates to celebrate but not to be satisfied.
“I told the guys in there, this is what you should just come to expect,” said Mitchell, who has qualified for the playoffs in each of his six NBA seasons. "You made your first one. Appreciate and enjoy it. Celebrate it for the city, for the organization, for you individual guys who have made it.
“We should come to a point now where that’s expected of us making the playoffs and continuously being here and continuously pushing forward.”
Jalen Green scored 30 to pace the Rockets, who have lost five straight.
Houston trailed by 20 in the third quarter but rallied and closed within five early in the fourth when Allen single-handedly put the Cavs back in control.
First, Cleveland's center hustled back on defense and blocked an attempted dunk by Tari Eason. Allen then made four free throws before his dunk pushed the Cavs' lead to 11. Caris LeVert knocked down a 3-pointer and made a steal and dunk to give Cleveland a 102-86 lead.
The 21-year-old Mobley, who seems to improve every game, had a dominant sequence in the first half.
Mobley snatched a pair of offensive rebounds to prolong Cleveland's possession before grabbing a third in the air and dunking over two Rockets defenders to put the Cavs ahead by 11.
Mitchell made back-to-back 3-pointers and scored eight points in the final 1:48 to help the Cavs open a 60-43 halftime lead.
PORTER'S RETURN
Rockets forward Kevin Porter Jr. returned to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the first time since being traded by Cleveland in 2021.
Porter spent a tumultuous 1 1/2 years with the Cavs, a stay that included an arrest for weapons possession and an argument with GM Koby Altman.
“I’m happy for Kevin after everything he’s been through - and it’s a lot - since the day he left here,” Houston coach Stephen Silas said. “He has matured and grown. I’m proud of him for that.”
TIP-INS
Rockets: With one of the league's youngest rosters, Houston is a work in progress. Silas sees the Cavs as a model for his squad. “That’s where we want to be, playing for the chance to make the playoffs or seeding late in the season,” he said. "They were young and inexperienced and went through their lumps. Then they got the vets in to take the next step forward.” ... Houston has lost 18 of its last 20 road games.
Cavaliers: Mitchell is 13 shy of 10,000 career points. ... F Isaac Okoro did not play in the second half due to left knee soreness. ... Improved to 30-8 at home. ... Bickerstaff smiled when asked what he was doing in 1998, when the Cavs last made the postseason without James on their roster. “I mean, I was having a hell of a time in college,” said Bickerstaff, who was a sophomore at Oregon State.
UP NEXT
Rockets: At New York on Monday.
Cavaliers: Visit Atlanta on Tuesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Jabari Smith Jr. vs. Jarrett Allen (Donovan Mitchell gains possession) | ||
| 11:45 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting dunk (Evan Mobley assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:22 |  | Kevin Porter Jr. misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 11:13 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point running layup | 0-4 |
| 10:51 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-4 |
| 10:29 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point floating jump shot | 2-6 |
| 10:17 | | Evan Mobley blocks Alperen Sengun's two point cutting layup | ||
| 10:15 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 10:11 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 9:59 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:56 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | +2 | Kenyon Martin Jr. makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Jalen Green assists) | 4-6 |
| 9:32 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Isaac Okoro draws the foul) | ||
| 9:32 | | +1 | Isaac Okoro makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-7 |
| 9:32 | | +1 | Isaac Okoro makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-8 |
| 9:19 | | Donovan Mitchell blocks Alperen Sengun's two point cutting layup | ||
| 9:19 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 9:08 | | Rockets turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 8:52 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point stepback jump shot | 4-10 |
| 8:34 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Jalen Green assists) | 6-10 |
| 8:18 | | Darius Garland misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:16 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 8:07 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 9-10 |
| 8:07 | | Darius Garland shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 8:07 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-10 |
| 7:48 | | Evan Mobley turnover (lost ball) (Jabari Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 7:43 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point running layup | 12-10 |
| 7:30 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 7:28 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 7:15 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:12 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 7:09 | | Isaac Okoro turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Green steals) | ||
| 7:04 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:02 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 6:46 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting layup (Darius Garland assists) | 12-12 |
| 6:39 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. offensive foul (Darius Garland draws the foul) | ||
| 6:39 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:39 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:25 | | +3 | Darius Garland makes three point jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 12-15 |
| 6:09 | | Kevin Porter Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Evan Mobley steals) | ||
| 6:04 | | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point running dunk (Darius Garland assists) | 12-17 |
| 5:47 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 14-17 |
| 5:24 | | Evan Mobley turnover (bad pass) (Jabari Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 5:13 | | Jalen Green misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:09 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound | ||
| 4:54 | | Darius Garland misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:54 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 4:54 | | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 4:54 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-18 |
| 4:54 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-19 |
| 4:40 | | +2 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 16-19 |
| 4:27 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-22 |
| 4:11 | | Kevin Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:08 | | Lamar Stevens defensive rebound | ||
| 3:52 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-25 |
| 3:32 | | Isaac Okoro personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 3:27 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:23 | | Lamar Stevens defensive rebound | ||
| 3:09 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Kevin Porter Jr. steals) | ||
| 3:01 | | +2 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes two point layup | 18-25 |
| 2:43 | | Tari Eason personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 2:43 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:29 | | Lamar Stevens misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:29 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:29 | | Cavaliers turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 2:13 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point layup | ||
| 2:13 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:11 | | Cavaliers defensive rebound | ||
| 2:00 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point alley-oop dunk (Darius Garland assists) | 18-27 |
| 1:40 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point hook shot | 20-27 |
| 1:31 | | Tari Eason personal foul (Ricky Rubio draws the foul) | ||
| 1:31 | | +1 | Ricky Rubio makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-28 |
| 1:31 | | +1 | Ricky Rubio makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-29 |
| 1:12 | | Kevin Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 1:08 | | Usman Garuba offensive rebound | ||
| 1:05 | | Tari Eason misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:02 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 0:51 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 20-31 |
| 0:32 | | Evan Mobley blocks Kevin Porter Jr.'s two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Lamar Stevens defensive rebound | ||
| 0:12 | | Ricky Rubio misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 0:10 | | Daishen Nix defensive rebound | ||
| 0:08 | | +2 | Kenyon Martin Jr. makes two point running layup (Daishen Nix assists) | 22-31 |
| 0:00 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 22-33 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:49 | | Daishen Nix misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:49 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 11:43 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point driving layup (Daishen Nix assists) | 24-33 |
| 11:23 | | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point cutting layup (Darius Garland assists) | 24-35 |
| 11:05 | | Usman Garuba misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:02 | | Ricky Rubio defensive rebound | ||
| 11:00 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point running dunk (Ricky Rubio assists) | 24-37 |
| 10:40 | | Daishen Nix turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 10:17 | | Darius Garland misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:15 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | Ricky Rubio shooting foul (Tari Eason draws the foul) | ||
| 10:14 | | +1 | Tari Eason makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-37 |
| 10:14 | | +1 | Tari Eason makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-37 |
| 10:00 | | Usman Garuba shooting foul (Evan Mobley draws the foul) | ||
| 10:00 | | +1 | Evan Mobley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-38 |
| 10:00 | | +1 | Evan Mobley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-39 |
| 9:45 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Kenyon Martin Jr. assists) | 29-39 |
| 9:35 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point cutting dunk (Evan Mobley assists) | 29-41 |
| 9:18 | | +2 | Tari Eason makes two point driving finger roll layup | 31-41 |
| 9:01 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point pullup jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 31-44 |
| 8:35 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:33 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 8:28 | | Evan Mobley turnover (lost ball) (Usman Garuba steals) | ||
| 8:21 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:18 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | +2 | Kenyon Martin Jr. makes two point putback layup | 33-44 |
| 7:55 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:53 | | Usman Garuba defensive rebound | ||
| 7:49 | | +2 | Daishen Nix makes two point running dunk (Usman Garuba assists) | 35-44 |
| 7:48 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:30 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point floating jump shot (Ricky Rubio assists) | 35-46 |
| 7:07 | | Daishen Nix misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:05 | | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | Kenyon Martin Jr. personal foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | Cedi Osman misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:47 | | Usman Garuba defensive rebound | ||
| 6:40 | | Usman Garuba offensive foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 6:40 | | Usman Garuba turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:30 | | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:27 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 6:17 | | +2 | Josh Christopher makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Kevin Porter Jr. assists) | 37-46 |
| 6:08 | | Ricky Rubio turnover (bad pass) (Tari Eason steals) | ||
| 6:02 | | Caris LeVert shooting foul (Usman Garuba draws the foul) | ||
| 6:02 | | +1 | Usman Garuba makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-46 |
| 6:02 | | +1 | Usman Garuba makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-46 |
| 5:44 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:42 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 5:38 | | Darius Garland misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:35 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 5:33 | | Cedi Osman misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 5:32 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point tip dunk | 39-48 |
| 5:12 | | Darius Garland personal foul (Kevin Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 5:00 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:53 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound | ||
| 4:50 | | Jabari Smith Jr. personal foul (Evan Mobley draws the foul) | ||
| 4:36 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point turnaround jump shot | 39-50 |
| 4:12 | | Josh Christopher misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:02 | | Evan Mobley misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 4:00 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 3:49 | | Kevin Porter Jr. misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:45 | | Donovan Mitchell defensive rebound | ||
| 3:39 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point running finger roll layup | ||
| 3:37 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 3:37 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point tip dunk | 39-52 |
| 3:32 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:21 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 3:19 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 3:04 | | Kevin Porter Jr. misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 3:00 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | Jabari Smith Jr. shooting foul (Evan Mobley draws the foul) | ||
| 2:50 | | Evan Mobley misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:50 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | Evan Mobley misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 2:48 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 2:28 | | Evan Mobley blocks Alperen Sengun's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:26 | | Tari Eason offensive rebound | ||
| 2:16 | | Tari Eason turnover (offensive goaltending) | ||
| 2:05 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Tari Eason defensive rebound | ||
| 2:00 | | Tari Eason offensive foul (Charge) (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 2:00 | | Tari Eason turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:48 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving finger roll layup | 39-54 |
| 1:25 | | +2 | Kevin Porter Jr. makes two point driving layup | 41-54 |
| 1:10 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 41-57 |
| 0:44 | | Rockets turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 0:34 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 41-60 |
| 0:14 | | +2 | Tari Eason makes two point cutting dunk (Alperen Sengun assists) | 43-60 |
| 0:01 | | Darius Garland misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |