Cleveland Cavaliers Aim to Clinch No. 1 Seed Against Kings Sunday

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to secure the Eastern Conference’s top seed for the first time since 2016 during their game against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. With tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern at Rocket Arena, Cleveland’s postseason aspirations hinge on their performance against a struggling Kings team.

The Cavaliers enter the matchup with a record of 62-15, sitting five games ahead of the Boston Celtics, who hold the second seed. Meanwhile, the Kings, currently at 37-40, are fighting to maintain their playoff position as they sit in the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.

This game comes on the heels of the Cavaliers’ recent success, having won six of their last seven games, including a critical three-game winning streak. “We feel we’re playing our best basketball at the right time,” said Cavaliers guard Darius Garland. “Each game matters a lot, and we’re focused on finishing strong.”

The last meeting between the two teams on March 19 resulted in a 119-123 loss for Cleveland. That defeat raised concerns about the team’s consistency during a tough West Coast trip, where energy levels dropped significantly. “We let one slip away in Sacramento; we need to make sure not to repeat that,” Garland added.

The Kings are struggling, having won just three of their last seven games. Despite the presence of prominent players such as DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, their recent offensive output has faltered. Sacramento guard Malik Monk, who averages 17.6 points per game this season, has seen reduced minutes, impacting his scoring.

Team updates indicate that the Cavaliers will field their starting lineup of Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. However, Ty Jerome and Dean Wade are listed as questionable due to injuries. For the Kings, Keegan Murray is questionable with a back issue, while Jake LaRavia and Mason Jones are out.

The Cavaliers are significant favorites in this matchup, listed at -9.5 against the Kings. This season, Cleveland has excelled at Rocket Arena, maintaining an impressive 21-16-1 record against the spread as home favorites. The Kings, on the other hand, have dropped seven of their last ten games, which complicates their road to the playoffs.

As the Cavaliers look to solidify their standing in the East, Cleveland fans hope for a decisive victory against a Kings team that has struggled to stay relevant in the playoff race. “We control our destiny now, and we want to keep it that way,” said Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Fans can catch the game on NBA TV, NBA League Pass, and the FanDuel Sports Network. The Cavaliers aim to demonstrate that last month’s loss was merely an outlier as they prepare for their playoff push.