Eastern Conference             

Cleveland vs. Chicago/OR/Milwaukee

Game 1 – Mon  May 4  Chicago/Milwaukee at Cleveland    7:00PM   7:00PM      TNT

Game 2 – Wed  May 6  Chicago/Milwaukee at Cleveland    7:00PM   7:00PM      TNT

Game 3 – Fri  May 8  Cleveland at Chicago/Milwaukee     TBD      TBD       ESPN

Game 4 – Sun  May 10 Cleveland at Chicago/Milwaukee    2:30PM   3:30PM      ABC

Game 5 * Tue  May 12 Chicago/Milwaukee at Cleveland     TBD      TBD        TNT

Game 6 * Thu  May 14 Cleveland at Chicago/Milwaukee     TBD      TBD       ESPN

Game 7 * Sun  May 17 Chicago/Milwaukee at Cleveland     TBD      TBD        TNT

GAME 4
First round of Eastern Conference playoffs
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4-0) 101, BOSTON CELTICS (0-4) 93
TD Garden
Sunday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: ABC

1. Will it be life without Kevin Love for the Cavaliers? That's the gut feeling I have after he suffered a dislocated left shoulder in the fourth game of the Boston series on Sunday. Sure, the Cavaliers completed the four-game sweep, but it might have come at a big cost. The Cavs will know more after Love's MRI. I think he'll miss some action.

2. The Cavaliers were the first team in the East to advance to the second round. The series won't start until Saturday at the earliest, a league spokesman told me yesterday. Game 1 could be Sunday at The Q. They'll have at least five days off before their semifinal series against the Bulls, who have a 3-1 lead over Milwaukee. 

3. Let's get this out of the way: The Celtics impressed me. They came right at the Cavs in the best-of-seven series. They weren't intimidated in the least by LeBron James and the rest of the Cavs. Maybe they were too inexperienced to realize what kind of underdog they were in this series. Coach Brad Stevens had them ready to play.

4. James (281) moved past No. 9 Clyde "The Glide" Drexler in all-time playoff steals. He also passed No. 7 Kobe Bryant (1,040) in all-time assists. James now has 1,045. He surpassed No. 6 Shaquille O'Neal (1,168) in all-time playoff free throws. James now has 1,171. He needs three more 3-pointers to pass No. 9 Jason Kidd (236).

5. His 30-point effort in Game 3 was the 70th of his postseason career. It's amazing how people just expect him to perform at that level. I guess that comes with the territory.

6. After a so-so effort in Game 3, guard Kyrie Irving came back strong in the close-out game with 24 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and three assists. He didn't shoot the ball very well - 8 of 19 - but neither did many of his teammates.

7. The Cavs have won 31 of their last 32 games when scoring 100 points. They are 45-5 this season when they top the century mark.

8. Celtics forward Jae Crowder appeared to be knocked unconscious when he took the hit from Cavs guard J.R. Smith late in the game. Smith was ejected to swinging his fist behind him. It seemed to clip Crowder on the chin. Maybe he has a glass jaw. Smith, though, could face a one-game suspension for Game 1 of the East semifinals for his inappropriate actions.

9. We saw evidence today why the Cavs acquired center Kendrick Perkins. He came into the game and asserted his will on Crowder by knocking him down on a pick and later taking a swing at him. He's darn lucky that he didn't get ejected along with Smith for his tough-guy act. If he pulls that against Bulls center Joakim Noah, there's going to be more consequences.

10. Cavs guard Iman Shumpert might find himself in the starting lineup in Game 1 of the East semifinals if Smith is suspended. Shump was outstanding on Sunday with 15 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

UP NEXT: Game 1, Eastern Conference semifinals, vs. the Chicago-Milwaukee winner, TBD (Saturday is the earliest start)

STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Jae Crowder (6-6, 235)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 225) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 180)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Celtics - G Chris Babb, G/F James Young
OFFICIALS
Tony Brothers, John Goble, Leroy Richardson

GAME 3
First round of Eastern Conference playoffs
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (3-0) 103, BOSTON CELTICS (0-3) 95
TD Garden
Thursday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: TNT, Fox Sports Ohio

1. The Cavaliers are gunning for a sweep in their best-of-seven series with Boston. They have a chance to close out the first-round series at 1 p.m. Sunday at TD Garden. If you have a chance to wrap up a series, step on their throats. Don't give your opponent a chance to come back in the series. Boston is certainly giving the Cavs everything they have. The Celtics are playing so hard in this series. I have a new-found respect for them.

2. LeBron James was spectacular with 31 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks. He shot 13 of 26 from the field. The only downside is that he played a game-high 42 minutes. The Cavs can't afford to wear him down, especially in the first round of the playoffs. He'll be needed on this playoff run that could stretch into June.

3. Things came easy for Kyrie Irving in the first two games of the series. He averaged 28 points in the first two games. One could make a case for him being the best player on the court on those games. It all came crashing down in Game 3 when he had just 13 points and six assists. He shot just 3 of 11 from the field. He never got in any kind of flow. 

4. Luckily for the Cavs, both Kevin Love (23 points, nine rebounds, three assists) and J.R. Smith (15 points, five rebounds) both came up big. Love was 6 of 10 from behind the arc and Smith was 3 of 8. The Cavs were 12 of 29 from the 3-point line.

5. Boston players have been trying to get rough with James. Cavs coach David Blatt said that's playoff basketball. It might have been a little excessive, especially when center Timofey Mozgov got elbowed in the throat. They are trying to get into the Cavs' head with the rugged play. It's not going to work. James said he's seen and heard it all.

6. Boston's bench has outscored its Cleveland counterparts, 143-52, in the first three games of the series. Forward Jae Crowder (16) had as many points as the Cavs' bench in Game 3. Critics point to the disparity and say that will be the Cavs' eventual downfall in the playoffs. None of their three main players off the bench are big scorers. Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova pride themselves on their defensive acumen. James said whatever scoring they get from their bench is icing on the cake. James Jones, of course, is a scorer and has made big baskets in the series.

7. The Cavs have committed 31 turnovers in the first two games of the series, 11 by James. They had just 11 turnovers in Game 3. That's how they have to play, especially in the subsequent rounds of the playoffs.

9. I've been impressed with the way the Cavaliers have competed on the boards. It will bode them well in later rounds. They own a 138-118 edge on the glass in the first three games. Kevin Love is averaging 9.0 rebounds in the series. James is right behind at 8.6 and Thompson at 8.0. Thompson is averaging 4.7 offensive rebounds in the series. It's one of the keys to the series thus far, according to Boston coach Brad Stevens.

10. Shooting percentages have taken a major dip in the series. The Cavs were shooting just 44.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line in the first two games. Boston was shooting just 42.7 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from behind the arc. 

UP NEXT: at Boston, TD Garden, Game 4 of Eastern Conference playoffs, 1 p.m. Sunday

STARTERS

SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 225) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 180)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Marcus Smart (6-4, 220)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Celtics - G Chris Babb, G/F James Young
OFFICIALS
James Capers, David Guthrie, Jason Phillips

GAME 2
First round of Eastern Conference playoffs
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2-0) 99, BOSTON CELTICS (0-2) 91
Quicken Loans Arena
Tuesday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: TNT, Fox Sports Ohio

1. This next game in Boston on Thursday is going to be the toughest in the series. They will be facing a hostile team in a hostile environment. It's Boston's best chance at a victory in the series. If they don't win Game 3, the Celtics are probably going to get swept. The Celtics are confident they can win the game. Guard Isaiah Thomas said they just have to clean up a few things, and they have a chance at getting back in the series.

2. Obviously, LeBron James (30 points) and Kyrie Irving (26) were outstanding in Game 2. The Celtics haven't been able to slow down Irving in the series, as he's averaged 28 points in the first two games. And, once James starts attacking the basket like he did tonight, there's no stopping him. The third member of the Big Three, Kevin Love (13 points) only got eight shots on the night. However, he was again aggressive getting to the basket. He made 6 of 7 free throws. In the two games, he's 13 of 15 from the foul line. That's an outstanding number.

3. The Cavaliers' starters have outscored Boston's starters, 176-85, in the first two games. It's been a real mismatch. The same can be said of the Celtics' bench, however, which has a a whopping 106-36 edge over the Cavaliers. Many think Boston's bench is stronger than their starters, especially with guard Isaiah Thomas. He's had 22 points in each game and is quite a load. The guy plays with a chip on his shoulder. He finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting behind Toronto's Lou Williams.

4. James said after the game he has to cut down on his turnovers in Game 3. He has 11 turnovers in the first two games. Turn the ball over in Boston and the Cavs could lose Game 3. He averaged a career-high 3.9 turnovers during the regular season.

5. Game 3 is not going to be an easy by any means. James was vintage LeBron in Game 2. Simply impossible to defend. The Celtics tried to get rough with him - Evan Turner even smashed him in the face, by accident, I think.

6. The Cavaliers have a 93-73 edge on the glass in the first two games. 

7. Cavs guard J.R. Smith is not having a great series shooting the ball. He's 6 of 21 from the field, 3 of 15 from the 3-point line. He contributed tonight with seven points, four rebounds and five steals. That kept him on the floor.

8. Has a 3-point shooting team ever won an NBA title? Maybe Dallas in 2011. If the Cavs aren't a 3-point shooting team, I've never seen one. Their bombs-away approach was never more evident than in Game 2 when they made just 7 of 29 from behind the arc.

9. The Cavs have won 22 of their last 23 games at The Q. They are also 36-9 in the last 45 games.

10. The Cavs have never lost a series when they had a 2-0 lead.

UP NEXT: at Boston, TD Garden, Game 3 of Eastern Conference playoffs, 7 p.m. Thursday

STARTERS

SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 225) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 180)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Marcus Smart (6-4, 220)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Celtics - G Chris Babb, G/F James Young
OFFICIALS
Danny Crawford, Marc Davis, Bennett Salvatore

GAME 1
First round of Eastern Conference playoffs
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (1-0) 113, BOSTON CELTICS (0-1) 100
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: ABC

1. The Cavaliers did what they set out to do: Win Game 1. It doesn't matter if they game was sloppy. It doesn't matter if it was ugly. All that matters is they won the game. They'll need 15 more of these to win the ultimate goal - an NBA championship.

2. The Big Three stepped up big tonight. Kyrie Irving's was silky smooth right from the start. He fired in his first five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 30 points. The Celtics bemoaned the fact they were right in his face on many of his shots and it didn't matter. He still knocked down the shots.

3. I was very impressed with power forward Kevin Love's game. He started 2 of 11 from the field, yet he still finished with 19 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, four assists and one steal. He just kept grinding away. He was 7 of 8 from the foul line. LeBron James said that shows him how aggressive Love was in the game.

4. James had 20 points, six rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. He didn't shoot the ball very well - 8 of 18 - and turned the ball over five times. He did a very good job of leading this team, keeping his teammates encouraged and facilitating. When Love was 2 of 11, he was tapping him on the head, keeping him into the game. The Cavs were trailing by seven or eight points in the first half. James huddled the troops and told them everything was going to be OK. Of course, it turned out that way. 

5. Talent normally takes over in games like this. Boston is going to fight this team to the final second of the series. They just don't have the talent to win the series. I picked the Cavs to win in five games. Many other "experts" predicted a sweep. I think the Celtics can win Game 3 when the series shifts to Boston. If they don't win that game, they are cooked. Then the Cavs will sweep.

6. The Cavaliers are one of the NBA's elite teams. The Cavs and Warriors have been established by Las Vegas oddsmakers as favorites to win the NBA title. I'm starting to believe it myself.

7. James has never lost a first-round series in his career. It probably isn't going to happen against Boston, either. He's 9-0 lifetime in the first round. 

8. James is poised to set several playoff milestones. He passed Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao for career playoff games. James has now played in 72 career playoff games with the Cavs. He's two offensive rebounds shy of passing John "Hot Rod" Williams (99) for fourth place on the Cavs' all-time list. 

9. He's also on the verge of moving up the ranks on the NBA's all-time lists: He's 19 points away from passing Jerry West (4,457) for seventh all-time. He overtook No. 9 Michael Jordan (1,022) on the all-time list for playoff assists. James now has 1,023. He's 15 free throws away from passing Shaquille O'Neal (1,168) for sixth all-time. James is six 3-pointers made from passing Jason Kidd for ninth all-time and three steals from overtaking Robert Horry (276) for 10th all-time.

10. Since the Cavs added J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert from New York on Jan. 5, they've led the NBA in 3-pointers made with 11.6 per game. They were 13 of 31 from the arc tonight. 

11. The Cavs have won 21 of their last 22 games at The Q. They ended 31-10 at home during the regular season. Wonder why it's important to get homecourt advantage in the playoffs? Because they play so well at home. They are an NBA-best 35-9 in the last 44 games.

UP NEXT: vs. Boston, Quicken Loans Arena, Game 2 of Eastern Conference playoffs, 7 p.m. Tuesday

STARTERS

SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 225) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 180)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Marcus Smart (6-4, 220)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Celtics - G Chris Babb, G/F James Young
OFFICIALS
Mike Callahan, Pat Fraher, Zach Zarba

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (53-29) 113, WASHINGTON WIZARDS (46-36) 108
Quicken Loans Arena
Wednesday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: Fox Sports Ohio

1. The Cavaliers' first-round opponent is set. They will take on Boston (40-42) in the best-of-seven series. The first two games will be in Cleveland. Game 1 is 3 p.m. Sunday. Game 2 is 7 p.m. Tuesday.

2. Coach David Blatt wanted his starters to get some "burn" tonight. They all did, with the exception of LeBron James. He skipped the regular-season finale. The Cavs were 3-10 this season without him in the lineup. Guard Kevin Irving played 18 minutes. He still seems a bit bothered by his sore right hip. None of the starters played regular minutes, just enough to stay sharp and keep their rhythm.

3. Tonight was Fan Appreciation Night. The Cavs gave away more than $1 million in prizes, including a new car. The players took the jerseys off their backs and their shoes off after the game and gave them to the fans. It's a popular gesture.

4. I was impressed with guard Matthew Dellavedova tonight. He ended with a season-high 18 points, a career-high 12 assists, three rebounds and two steals. He shot the ball well - 6 of 11 from the field, 4 of 5 from the 3-point line. It's important he holds up his end of the bargain because when Irving is off the floor in the playoffs, Delly can't completely break down.

5. The Wizards played a hard-fought, double-overtime game  with Indiana on Tuesday. They came right back and played in OT against the Cavs. Coach Randy Wittman's club probably needs a day off. They play Atlantic Division champion Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.

6. The Cavs won 20 of their last 21 games at The Q. They ended 31-10 at home this season. It's the 10th time they've won 30 or more home games in franchise history. They've also won 28 of their last 29 games when they score 100 or more points. On the season, they are 42-5 when they top the century mark.

UP NEXT: vs. Boston, Quicken Loans Arena, Game 1 of Eastern Conference playoffs, 3 p.m. Sunday

Cleveland vs. Boston

Game 1 – Sun  April 19  Boston at Cleveland              3PM      ABC/R

Game 2 – Tue  April 21  Boston at Cleveland              7PM      TNT

Game 3 – Thu  April 23  Cleveland at Boston              7PM      TNT

Game 4 – Sun  April 26  Cleveland at Boston              1PM      ABC

Game 5 * Tue  April 28  Boston at Cleveland              TBD      TBD

Game 6 * Thu  April 30  Cleveland at Boston              TBD      TBD

Game 7 * Sat  May 2     Boston at Cleveland              TBD      TNT

STARTERS
SF Mike Miller (6-8, 218) vs. Paul Pierce (6-7, 230)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Drew Gooden (6-10, 230)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Marcin Gortat (6-11, 240)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 225) vs. Bradley Beal (6-5, 207)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Ramon Sessions (6-3, 190)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, F LeBron James
Wizards - G Garrett Temple, F Nene
OFFICIALS
Scott Foster, Kane Fitzgerald, Scott Twardoski

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (52-29) 109, DETROIT PISTONS (31-50) 97
Quicken Loans Arena
Monday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: Fox Sports Ohio

1. Talk about going through the motions. This game had no bearing on the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Cavaliers are locked into the No. 2 playoff seed. The Pistons have been eliminated from the playoff chase in Coach Stan Van Gundy's first year. 

2. The Cavaliers played their starters against the Pistons. They could also start against Washington on Wednesday on Fan Appreciation Night. Guard Kyrie Irving suffered some discomfort in his right hip. It was something that has plagued him for much of the season. He started against the Pistons, but sat in the second half. It's something that will have to be closely monitored. Coach David Blatt's plan is for the starters to play vs. the Wizards just to keep their rhythm and conditioning sharp.

3. LeBron James recorded his second triple-double of the season with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. He wouldn't commit to playing against the Wizards on Wednesday. My guess is the starters will be out there for the opening tip, but won't play their normal minutes. It's important to keep their rhythm heading into the postseason. If tonight's game was any indication, they are there.

4. They appear to be ready for the playoffs. They looked like the best team in the league tonight, especially in the first quarter. They pounded the Pistons on the boards. Detroit was ranked fourth in the league in total rebounds coming into last night's game. The Cavs destroyed them on the boards, 45-30. Cavs center Timofey Mozgov was a beast on the boards with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

5. The Cavs turned the ball over 12 times last night. That's a huge improvement from Sunday's game in Boston when they had a season-high 25 turnovers. I don't see how playing the reserves and turning the ball over that much is getting anyone ready for the playoffs.

6. The Cavs won their 30th game at The Q tonight. It's the 10th time they've won 30 or more games at home in a season. They've also won 19 of their last 20 home games. 

7. The Cavs have made a franchise-record 810 3-pointers this season. They became the 11th team in NBA history to do so. The Hawks and Trail Blazers were right on the Cavs' heels and could also top the 800 mark.

8. This could be the last time the Cavaliers see power forward Greg Monroe in a Pistons' uniform. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and is expected to sign elsewhere. It probably won't be in Cleveland, either.

UP NEXT: vs. Washington, Quicken Loans Arena, 8 p.m. Wednesday.

STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Caron Butler (6-7, 228)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Greg Monroe (6-11, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Andre Drummond (6-11, 279)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 225) vs. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6-5, 205)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Reggie Jackson (6-3, 208)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Pistons - G Spencer Dinwiddie, G Brandon Jennings
OFFICIALS
James Capers, Brian Forte, Marat Kogut

BOSTON CELTICS (38-42) 117, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (51-29) 78
TD Garden
Sunday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: Fox Sports Ohio

1. The storyline today was who didn't play: LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith. The backups that played weren't competitive in the least. Only center Timofey Mozgov started. The Cavaliers are 2-10 without James this season. There's a chance he could sit in the Detroit game on Monday, too. Then, he could play in the regular-season finale on Wednesday and try to maintain his rhythm heading into the postseason. The Cavaliers are obviously not the same team without James.

2. It's all about the big picture now. It's about getting primed for the playoffs. It's about entering the postseason on an optimum level. With the exception of a few nicks and bruises, they are in good health. There are a few things to keep one's eye on, such as James' knees and lower back, Love's back, Irving's hip and guard Iman Shumpert's strained quad. But none of the maladies would keep any of those players out of a postseason game.

3. The Celtics are holding onto the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. If they win their last two games, they'll be the Cavs' first-round opponent in the playoffs. They own the tie-breaker over No. 8 Brooklyn. For now, I'm operating under the premise that it will be the Cavs vs. the Celtics in the first round. The Cavs won't just roll over Boston. They are 1-4 vs. Boston in the playoffs all-time, including the devastating loss in 2010. There is a lot to like about the Celtics and that starts with Coach Brad Stevens. He is one of the league's bright, young coaches. If Mike Krzyzewski ever retires from Duke, rumor has it that the Blue Devils would knock on Stevens' door. That's the ultimate compliment.

4. Boston has won four in a row, including six of the last seven games. The Cavs have won 12 of their last 16 games, as well as 32 of their last 41.

5. The Cavs finished 22-19 on the road this season. It's tied for the third-best mark in franchise history with the 1991-92 team. It was surpassed only twice in their 45-year history: 27-14 in 2008-09 and 26-15 in 2009-10. That's impressive any way you look at it. It's normally a key indicator of a team that can do some serious damage in the postseason.

6. The Cavs shot a brick-like 3 of 22 from behind the arc on Sunday. There were very few superlatives from today's game. They didn't play well in any phase. They turned the ball over so many times - a season-high 25 times - it didn't give them a chance to win.

7. They have made a franchise-best 793 3-pointers this season. If they make seven more, they'll become the 11th team in NBA history with 800 or more 3s in a season.

UP NEXT: vs. Detroit, Quicken Loans Arena, 7 p.m. Monday

STARTERS
SF Shawn Marion (6-7, 228) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)

PF Tristan Thompson (6-10, 238) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250)
SG Iman Shumpert (6-5, 220) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 205)

PG Matthew Dellavedova (6-4, 200) vs. Marcus Smart (6-4, 220)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, F Kevin Love
Celtics - G Chris Babb, G/F James Young
OFFICIALS
Bill Kennedy, JT Orr, James Williams

BOSTON CELTICS (37-42) 99, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (51-28) 90
Quicken Loans Arena
Friday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: Fox Sports Ohio

1. The Cavaliers had a decent chance of winning tonight's game, but they kept thinking about the big picture. In this case, it's all about getting proper rest for the start of the playoffs. Coach David Blatt yanked all his starters for the fourth quarter and went with his reserves. They had helped the Cavs make up a 16-point deficit in the third quarter and take their first lead in the game. But it wasn't to be. The Celtics grabbed a two-point lead after the third quarter, 79-77, and never trailed in the fourth.

2. Boston has moved up to the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They have the same record as No. 8 Brooklyn, but win the tie-breaker with the Nets. If they win their last three games, they'll get rewarded with the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs. That would be an intriguing first-round series, and one the Cavs would probably win in five games. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here.

3. LeBron James said after the game he probably won't play in Boston on Sunday. He said recently that he usually takes a couple games off before the playoffs. So, he could also sit out another one (Monday vs. Detroit?). I'd play him in the Washington game in the regular-season finale next Wednesday, just so he can keep him rhythm heading into the postseason. The last thing you want to do is interrupt their rhythm heading into the playoffs. That would be detrimental.

4. Despite the loss, they've still won 12 of their last 15 games, as well as 32 of their last 40.

5. The Cavaliers now have the top two scorers in the East in James (third overall at 25.5 points per game) and Irving (ninth at 22). 

6. The Cavaliers are now 18-1 in their last 19 games at The Q. Just one of the 19 foes have scored 100 or more points.

7. Toronto and Chicago have the identical record with three games remaining for the No. 3 playoff seed. However, the Bulls have to finish one game ahead of the Toronto since the Raptors win the tie-breaker. That's pretty important for the Cavs. If the Raptors earn the third seed, that will make the Cavs' road to the NBA Finals a bit easier, in my opinion. The Raptors are a quality team, but they aren't playoff-tested like the Bulls. Whichever team earns the third seed will be favored to win its first-round series. It would then be on the Cavs' side of the bracket for the East playoffs.

8. The Cavaliers dished out 25 assists. It was the 22nd time they have recorded 25 or more assists in a game this season.

9. Tristan Thompson grabbed 12 rebounds. He's averaged 10.8 rebounds in his last four games. He continues to impress.

10. Celtics swingman Evan Turner dished out a career-high 13 assists. The former Ohio State star added six rebounds and four points.

UP NEXT: at Boston, TD Garden, 3 p.m. Sunday

STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Evan Turner (6-7, 205)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Brandon Bass (6-8, 250)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Tyler Zeller (7-0, 250)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 220) vs. Avery Bradley (6-2, 205)

PG Matthew Dellavedova (6-4, 200) vs. Marcus Smart (6-4, 220)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Iman Shumpert
Celtics - G Chris Babb, G/F James Young
OFFICIALS
Bill Spooner, Justin Van Duyne, Gary Zielinski

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (51-27) 104, MILWAUKEE BUCKS (38-40) 99
BMO Harris Bradley Center
Wednesday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: Fox Sports Ohio

1. The Cavaliers wrapped up the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. It actually happened late in the third quarter when the Bulls lost to Orlando. The Bulls had to run the table on their games and have the Cavs lose the rest of them for them to overtake their Central Division foe. That wasn't going to happen. So, the Cavs secured the fourth division crown in their 45-year history. The others came in 1975-76, 2008-09 and 2009-10. They'll probably have a banner up at The Q for Friday's home game. Why? "Banners matter," LeBron James said after practice on Tuesday. 

2. The Cavs "only" attempted 34 3-pointers on the night. We can expect that bombs-away approach the rest of the way, regardless of what Coach David Blatt thinks. He said earlier in the season he'd like to see them attempt about 20 3s per game. In the last few weeks, they are launching about 30 per game. They took 37 on Sunday vs. Chicago. The good thing is they made 11 of 34 against the Bucks. Guard Kyrie Irving made 4 of 8 from behind the arc en route to a team-high 27 points.

3. The Cavs are 22-18 (.550) on the road this season, one of the best road records in franchise history. That's the sign of a quality team. We knew this wasn't going to be easy tonight. The Bucks play so hard, much like Chicago. They just don't have the talent level that the Bulls do. Milwaukee played without forward Giannis Antetokounmpo tonight. Coach Jason Kidd decided to give him the night off. More importantly, I spelled his name right without looking at their roster. That is a major coup. The Cavs are 6-2 on the road since March 10. They are averaging 111.4 points in those games and shooting 49 percent from the field and 41 percent from behind the arc. 

4. Toronto moved into a tie with Chicago for the No. 3 seed. That could be huge for the Cavs. They might face the Raptors in the second round of the playoffs instead of the Bulls. Also, Boston moved past Brooklyn into the No. 7 spot in the East. If the season were started today, it would be the Cavs vs. Celtics in the first round. The Cavs' next two games will be against Boston, starting at home on Friday.

5. LeBron James wasn't the Cavs' leading scorer, but he finished 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. He had 10 points in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left that put a dagger in the Bucks.

6. They are 32-7 in their last 39 games since Jan. 15. In that span, they have a +10 differential. They are the best team in the league heading into the playoffs.

7. The Cavs have reached the 50-win plateau for just the eighth time in franchise history. It's their first 50-win season since 2009-10.

8. Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams, last year's Rookie of the Year, was outstanding tonight with a game-high 30 points. He's so long, he causes problems for Irving. I kept waiting for James to switch over to him, but that never happened. I was also waiting to see Timofey Mozgov in the fourth quarter, but of course, he continued to sit in the final quarter. I just don't get the logic of that one.

9. I've stated this before, but Kidd should get some Coach of the Year votes. He's helped transform the Bucks into a playoff team. I wasn't so sure about him when he coached the Nets, but he's done a nice job in Milwaukee. Mike Budenholzer of Atlanta and Steve Kerr of Golden State are the leading candidates for the award.

10. Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty was a Cavs assistant for three years (2010-13) before joining Kidd's staff in Brooklyn last year. Cavs assistants Jim Boylan and Larry Drew were former head coaches in Milwaukee.  

UP NEXT: vs. Boston, Quicken Loans Arena, 7:30 p.m. Friday

STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Jared Dudley (6-7, 225)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Ersan Ilyasova (6-10, 235)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Zaza Pachulia (6-11, 270)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 220) vs. Khris Middleton (6-7, 225)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Michael Carter-Williams (6-6, 190)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Bucks - F Damien Inglis, F Jabari Parker
OFFICIALS
Zach Zarba, Curtis Blair, Sean Corbin

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (50-27) 99, CHICAGO BULLS (46-31) 94
Quicken Loans Arena
Sunday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: ABC

1. Anyone who think the Bulls will be an easy mark in the playoffs are out of their gourd. They play so hard. The Cavaliers would win the series, I believe, but it's going to be hard fought. How much they would have in the next round is the problem. The Bulls execute offensively and defend. They are also well-coached. It's going to be a battle.

2. Today's game marked the Cavs' first 50-win season since the 2009-10 season. It's their eighth 50-win season in franchise history. Five of them have come during the LeBron James era (66 in 2008-09, 61 in 2009-10, 50 in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2014-15).

3. There are only five games remaining in the regular season. They now have an insurmountable four-game lead on the Bulls. Just one more win will wrap up the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race and the Central Division title. They only have three division titles in franchise history (1975-76, 2008-09 and 2009-10).

4. They extended their winning streak at The Q to 18 games in a row. It's the third-longest streak in franchise history. The others were a 23-game streak from Oct. 30, 2008 to Feb. 3, 2009, and a 22-gamer from Dec. 15, 1988 to March 2, 1989. They have just three home games remaining in the regular season. They've outscored the opposition at home during the streak, 105.9-91.3. More impressively, they've held the 18 teams to just 40.5 percent shooting from the field and 32.6 percent from behind the arc.

5. Adding a player like Timofey Mozgov was important when going up against a team like Chicago. The Bulls' frontcourt of 7-0 Pau Gasol and 6-11 Joakim Noah can be imposing. Now, the Cavs have the size to deal with them. Their top reserves are Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic. 

6. Cavs power forward Kevin Love returned for the Cavaliers with 11 points and four rebounds. Love is needed to complete the Cavs' offensive attack. If he's playing at a high level, along with James and Kyrie Irving, they are going to be a load to deal with in the playoffs. Even with Love back in the lineup, the Cavs were outrebounded, 45-40.

7. The Cavs won the season series with the Bulls, 3-1.

8. Bulls center Joakim Noah doesn't seem to like LeBron James very well. The feeling is probably mutual. Noah tries to act like a tough guy. I don't think he really is, however.

UP NEXT: at Milwaukee, BMO Harris Bradley Center, 8 p.m. Wednesday

STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Mike Dunleavy (6-9, 230)

PF Kevin Love (6-10, 243) vs. Pau Gasol (7-0, 255)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Joakim Noah (6-11, 232)
SG J.R. Smith (6-6, 220) vs. Jimmy Butler (6-7, 220)

PG Kyrie Irving (6-3, 193) vs. Aaron Brooks (6-0, 161)

INACTIVE LIST

Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, G Joe Harris
Bulls - G Derrick Rose, G Kirk Hinrich
OFFICIALS
Danny Crawford, David Jones, Eli Rose