Where Cavs Stand In Playoff Seeding After Win Over Pacers

The Cleveland Cavaliers clinch the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference in the NBA Playoffs.

Apr 12, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) brings the ball up court in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Friday was a crucial night for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They entered their game against the Indiana Pacers as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with a lot on the line. A win could solidify their spot in the postseason and a loss would put them in danger of falling to the Play-In Tournament. 

The Cavaliers were able to pull off a 129-120 win over the Pacers in a hard-fought game. The Wine and Gold have officially clinched the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and will get home-court advantage in the first round on the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

They’re unable to jump the New York Knicks who are currently the third seed. However, there is a scenario where they could move up if the Milwaukee Bucksthey find themselves on the losing end of their two final games and the Cavs win on Sunday.

There are still several scenarios that could play out in terms of who the Cavs could play in the first round. Those opponents include these very same Pacers or the Orlando Magic. 

Apr 12, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) brings the ball up court in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Now onto the game itself. 

It may still have been a regular season game, but Rocket Mortage FieldHouse had a playoff atmosphere from the tip. The fans were clearly engaged knowing what was on the line, the physicality that each team played with felt like a postseason game, and each team played with a lot of intensity.

Georges Niang and T.J. McConnell even got T’d up for barking at one another after the whistle in the first quarter. 

Jarrett Allen, who scored 29 points and 13 rebounds against the Pacers, acknowledged his team’s playoff berth after the game. However, his eyes are set on where the team is going next

“The job’s not done yet.”