The NBA’s Central Division title was all but decided Sunday when the Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the visiting Chicago Bulls 99-94.
Thanks in part to buzzer-beating 3-pointers at the end of each of the first three quarters, the Cavaliers opened a four-game division lead over the Bulls with five games remaining. Cavs forward LeBron James posted his first triple-double of the season with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
The Central Division winner likely will land the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs behind the Atlanta Hawks, who previously sewed up the top seed.
Chicago and Cleveland could meet in the second round of the postseason, but the Cavs figure to hold home-court advantage for the series.
“If we see them down the road, we think we can play with them,” Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy said.
“It would be really, really exciting,” Chicago center Joakim Noah added. “I hope it happens.”
The battle for the last playoff spots in the East heated up Sunday when Pacers forward/guard Paul George made his season debut and helped Indiana beat the Miami Heat 112-89. George, who missed the regular season’s first 76 games with a broken right leg sustained in August while playing for Team USA, scored 13 points in 15 minutes.
With the win, Indiana tied Miami for ninth place in the East, 1 1/2 games behind the seventh-place Brooklyn Nets and one game behind the eighth-place Boston Celtics.
“Tonight, Paul got his feet wet,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “He is going to be a part of whatever success we have down the stretch. …
“Paul is one of the best two-way players in the game. His shot-making has been good all along in the recovery process, and he makes us a lot better defensively.”
The key game in the Western Conference on Sunday saw the Houston Rockets edge the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-112. Rockets guard James Harden scored 41 points, while guard Russell Westbrook paced the Thunder with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his 11th triple-double of the season.
Houston moved a full game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies in the battle for the Southwest Division crown and the No. 2 seed in the West. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City saw its lead over the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth and final postseason position slip to a half-game.
With college basketball taking center stage Monday when Wisconsin and Duke meet for the national title, the NBA schedule will consist of just one game. The Portland Trail Blazers, who hold the fourth seed in the West, travel to play the Brooklyn Nets.
On Tuesday, the bottom of the West standings will be in play when the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors play at New Orleans, while the sixth-place San Antonio Spurs play at Oklahoma City.
NBA PLAYOFF PICTURE THROUGH GAMES OF APRIL 5
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. *Atlanta Hawks (57-19), Southeast Division champions
2. *Cleveland Cavaliers (50-27), Central Division leaders
3. *Chicago Bulls (46-31)
4. *Toronto Raptors (45-32), Atlantic Division champions
5. *Washington Wizards (44-33)
6. Milwaukee Bucks (38-39)
7. Brooklyn Nets (35-41)
8. Boston Celtics (35-42)
—
T9. Indiana Pacers (34-43)
T9. Miami Heat (34-43)
11. Charlotte Hornets (33-43)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. *Golden State Warriors (63-14), Pacific Division champions
2. *Houston Rockets (53-24), Southwest Division leaders
3. *Memphis Grizzlies (52-25)
4. *Portland Trail Blazers (50-26), Northwest Division champions
5. *Los Angeles Clippers (52-26)
6. *San Antonio Spurs (51-26)
7. Dallas Mavericks (46-31)
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (42-35)
—
9. New Orleans Pelicans (41-35)
* — clinched playoff berth