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Cavs seal top spot in East with Bulls win

Written by Bolu Omoniyi | Apr 9, 2025 9:09:52 PM

Cleveland Cavaliers secured top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 135-113 victory over Chicago Bulls.

Victory means Kenny Atkinson's side will have home advantage in next week's play-offs following the completion of the regular season on Sunday.

Darius Garland top-scored with 38 points as the Cavaliers improved to 63-16 with three regular-season games remaining.

Elsewhere, Luka Doncic was ejected in the fourth quarter as Los Angeles Lakers lost 136-120 to Oklahoma City Thunder.

Doncic was dismissed for a second technical foul after an official said he was verbally abused by the Slovenian.

The 26-year-old insisted that he was responding to a courtside fan, but the decision stood.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander top-scored with 42 points for Thunder, who have already secured top spot in the Western Conference.

Lakers need two wins from their remaining three regular-season games to guarantee third place.

Just behind the Lakers in fourth are LA Clippers, who earned a fifth successive win by beating San Antonio Spurs 122-117.

Clippers have the same 47-32 record as Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies, but are ahead courtesy of NBA tiebreaker rules.

Warriors occupy the final play-off position in sixth after beating Phoenix Suns 133-95. Grizzlies are seventh after winning 124-100 at Charlotte Hornets.