Cavaliers make the playoffs without LeBron for first time since 1998

The Cleveland Cavaliers are postseason bound without LeBron James for the first time since 1998. On Sunday, the Cavaliers beat the Houston Rockets 108-91 to improve to a record of 48 wins and 28 losses. The Cavaliers are the sixth team to qualify for the 2023 NBA playoffs following the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies.

In Sunday’s 17-point win, it was center Jarrett Allen of San Diego, California, who had a significant contest. He had a double-double, as he led the team in points (24) and rebounds (14). Four more Cavaliers players reached double digits in scoring. Guard Donovan Mitchell of Elmsford, New York had 22 points, forward Evan Mobley of San Diego, California had 19 points, point guard Darius Garland of Gary, Indiana had 17 points, and shooting guard Caris Levert of Columbus, Ohio had 10 points.

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It has been a stellar first season in Cleveland for Mitchell after he spent the first five NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz. He is averaging 27.4 points per game, including a 71 point performance on January 2 in a 145-134 Cavaliers win over the Chicago Bulls. 

It should be noted that James led the Cavaliers to nine postseason berths during his time in Cleveland. The Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals for their only championship in franchise history. In seven games, the Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors four games to three. The Cavaliers also reached four more NBA Finals while James was in Cleveland, but lost in 2007 to the San Antonio Spurs, and three additional times to the Warriors in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

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