Cavaliers Defeat Hawks, Delay Playoff Clinch

Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley lead Cleveland to victory over Atlanta in key late-season matchup.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:46pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a basketball game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors.A cubist interpretation of the intense late-season clash between the Cavaliers and Hawks, hinting at the potential for an exciting playoff rematch.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the visiting Atlanta Hawks 122-116 on Wednesday night, powered by 31 points from Donovan Mitchell and a career-high-tying 19 rebounds from Evan Mobley. The win prevented the Hawks from clinching a playoff berth, setting up a potential postseason matchup between the two Eastern Conference teams.

Why it matters

This late-season clash between the Cavaliers and Hawks had major playoff implications, as Atlanta was on the verge of securing their spot in the postseason. Cleveland's victory keeps the Hawks from clinching a playoff bid for now, setting up an intriguing potential playoff preview between these two rising Eastern Conference contenders.

The details

Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavaliers, scoring 31 points, while Evan Mobley recorded a career-high-tying 19 rebounds to go along with 22 points. The win improves Cleveland's record to 47-32 on the season, while the Hawks drop to 43-36 and will have to wait at least a little longer to punch their ticket to the playoffs.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Donovan Mitchell

A star guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who scored 31 points in the win.

Evan Mobley

A young forward for the Cavaliers who recorded a career-high-tying 19 rebounds to go with 22 points.

Atlanta Hawks

The visiting team that was unable to clinch a playoff berth with the loss.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The home team that defeated the Hawks to delay their playoff clinching.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew this was a big game for us and the Hawks. Our guys stepped up and got the job done tonight.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Cavaliers Head Coach

What’s next

The Cavaliers and Hawks will likely meet again in the Eastern Conference playoffs, setting up an intriguing postseason matchup between these two rising contenders.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the growing rivalry between the Cavaliers and Hawks, two of the Eastern Conference's most exciting young teams. The win keeps Cleveland in the hunt for a higher playoff seed, while delaying Atlanta's postseason clinching and setting up the possibility of an epic playoff clash between these two squads.