Cavaliers clinch first playoff berth without LeBron James since 1998 / News - Basketnews.com

The Cavs win against the Rockets Sunday night clinched the organization its first playoff spot since 2018 and first without LeBron James since 1998.

Credit: AP Photo/Ron Schwane - Scanpix Credit AP Photo/Ron Schwane - Scanpix

With their win against the Houston Rockets Sunday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers have done what the franchise hadn't achieved since 1998.

Player of the Game EFF 40 Jarrett Allen Points 24 Accuracy 8-11 Rebounds 14 Assists 2

It was the 48th Cavs win that clinched the organization a playoff birth for the first time since 2018. At the same time, it will be the first franchise's appearance in the NBA playoffs without LeBron James since 1998.

Back then, the roster was led by a declining Shawn Kemp, career role player Wesley Person, and up-and-coming big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

This year, the team's headlined by the dynamic duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who together average 49.2 points per game, which is more than the trio of the 1997-98 season combined.

The Cavs are currently two games behind the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers and 4.5 games behind the second-placed Boston Celtics. Cleveland has six games remaining in the regular season.

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