Cavaliers Look to Clinch Top 6 Playoff Spot Against Shorthanded Warriors

Cleveland needs just one more win to guarantee a top six finish in the Eastern Conference standings.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:18pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in a cubist style, breaking down a basketball game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of navy, red, and yellow, abstracting the players' forms into angular shapes.An abstract, cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the playoff-bound Cavaliers and the injury-depleted Warriors.Los Angeles Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to clinch a top six spot in the NBA Playoffs when they take on the injury-depleted Golden State Warriors tonight. The Cavs currently sit in a tight race for playoff positioning in the East, with the Knicks and Cavaliers jockeying for the fourth seed. Meanwhile, the Warriors will be without several key players, including Steph Curry and Al Horford, making this a prime opportunity for the Cavaliers to pick up a crucial win.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers' playoff positioning is still up in the air, with the fifth through 10th seeds in the East all within reach. A win over the shorthanded Warriors would go a long way towards securing a top six spot and home-court advantage in the first round.

The details

The Cavaliers need just one more win over their final six games to guarantee themselves a top six finish in the Eastern Conference standings. They currently sit in a tight race with the Knicks for the fourth seed, with the fifth through 10th spots all still up for grabs. Meanwhile, the Warriors will be without several key players, including Steph Curry, Al Horford, and Moses Moody, making this a prime opportunity for the Cavaliers to pick up a crucial victory.

  • The Cavaliers-Warriors game is scheduled for tonight, April 2, 2026 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
  • The NBA Playoffs are set to begin on April 18, 2026.

The players

LeBron James

A 19-year NBA veteran and one of the greatest players of all time, James is looking to lead the Cavaliers to the playoffs in what could be one of his final seasons.

Luka Doncic

The young superstar is making his first career playoff appearance, having led the Cavaliers to a strong season in the Eastern Conference.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' leading scorer this season, Mitchell will need to step up if the team wants to secure a top six playoff spot.

Jarrett Allen

The Cavaliers' starting center, Allen's health will be crucial to the team's success in the playoffs.

Steph Curry

The Warriors' star point guard is out with a knee injury, leaving the team shorthanded against the Cavaliers.

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What they’re saying

“We must take care of business tonight and get this win. Every game is crucial at this point in the season.”

— Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers Guard

“Losing Steph is a huge blow, but we have to find a way to compete and keep our playoff positioning.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors Head Coach

What’s next

If the Cavaliers win tonight, they will only need two more wins in their final five games to clinch home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers have a golden opportunity to solidify their playoff positioning against a shorthanded Warriors team. A win would go a long way towards securing a top six seed and home-court advantage in the first round, which could be crucial in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race.