Charge Clinch Playoff Berth

Cleveland Charge secure first postseason appearance since 2022-23 season

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:49am

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The Cleveland Charge (21-9) clinched a spot in the 2026 NBA G League Playoffs with a 130-100 victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors (13-16) on Saturday night. The win guarantees the Charge's return to the postseason for the first time since the 2022-23 season.

Why it matters

The Charge's playoff berth marks an important milestone for the team, which has been working to rebuild and return to the postseason after missing out in recent years. This achievement will generate excitement among the team's fanbase and provide momentum heading into the playoffs.

The details

Cleveland was led by Olivier Sarr's double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds. Malaki Branham came off the bench to score 24 points with seven boards and seven assists. Darius Brown added 15 points, 15 assists, and six rebounds. The Warriors were paced by Chance McMillan's game-high 30 points.

  • The Charge clinched their playoff berth on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • The Charge's last playoff appearance was during the 2022-23 season.

The players

Olivier Sarr

A key player for the Cleveland Charge, Sarr recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds in the playoff-clinching win.

Malaki Branham

The Charge's sixth man, Branham scored 24 points off the bench and added seven rebounds and seven assists.

Darius Brown

The Charge's starting point guard, Brown filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 15 assists, and six rebounds.

Chance McMillan

The Santa Cruz Warriors' leading scorer, McMillan poured in a game-high 30 points in the losing effort.

Marques Bolden

The Warriors' center, Bolden contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The entire slate of first round matchups, dates & times for the 2026 NBA G League Playoffs will be announced after the conclusion of regular season play on March 28.

The takeaway

The Charge's return to the playoffs is a significant achievement for the team and its fanbase, as they look to build on this success and make a deep postseason run.