Cavaliers Secure Fourth Seed, Hornets End Season Strong

Cleveland Cavaliers' Craig Porter Jr. (9) dunks over Charlotte Hornets' Marques Bolden, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

In the final game of the regular season, the Charlotte Hornets secured a 120-110 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Hornets were led by Nick Smith Jr., who had a standout performance with a season-high 24 points. Steve Clifford, in his coaching farewell, guided the Hornets to this impressive win.

Despite the loss, the Cavaliers had some notable performances as well. Max Strus recorded his first career triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Cleveland opted to rest key players such as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Caris LeVert in preparation for the upcoming playoffs.

With this result, the Cavaliers finished the regular season in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, earning home-court advantage in their first-round matchup against the Orlando Magic. Cleveland ended the season with a 48-34 record, securing a top-four finish in the East.

Cavaliers' Max Strus records first career triple-double.

Nick Smith Jr. leads Hornets with 24 points in win.

Cleveland finishes fourth in Eastern Conference with 48-34 record.

Jarrett Allen emphasizes readiness for playoffs against Orlando Magic.

Pete Nance scores first NBA points with a 3-pointer for Cavaliers.

JT Thor shines with career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds for Hornets.

Coach Steve Clifford transitions to advisory role with Hornets.

Hornets focus on NBA draft lottery after finishing season with 21-61 record.

Cavaliers prepare to face Orlando Magic in playoffs with home-court advantage.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, Cleveland center Jarrett Allen emphasized the importance of being prepared to face the young and competitive Orlando team. The Cavaliers are focused on maintaining their momentum and readiness for the postseason.

Georges Niang, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley contributed solid performances for the Cavaliers in the game. Pete Nance, son of former NBA star Larry Nance, scored his first points in the league with a 3-pointer. The Cavaliers also provided valuable playing time to their younger players, giving them unique experiences on the court.

For the Hornets, JT Thor stood out with a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Despite finishing the season with the third-worst record in the East at 21-61, the Hornets displayed resilience and closed out the game with an 18-2 run.

Coach Steve Clifford, who is set to transition into an advisory role with the Hornets, commended his team for their effort and attitude throughout the season. He expressed pride in the players for their commitment and performance, especially in the latter part of the season.

As the regular season concludes, the Hornets will now turn their focus to the NBA draft lottery scheduled for May 12. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are gearing up to host a playoff game on either April 20 or 21, as they prepare to face the Orlando Magic in the postseason.

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