Cavs End Regular Season with Wire-to-Wire Win Over Wizards

Cleveland's bench and G League players lead the team to 52nd win of the season.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:19am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the court.The Cavaliers' depth and development of young talent shine through in their regular season finale victory over the Wizards, setting the stage for a playoff clash with the Raptors.Cleveland Today

The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up the regular season with a 130-117 victory over the Washington Wizards, led by strong performances from their bench and G League players. Nae'Qwan Tomlin scored 26 points, Tyrese Proctor added 22 off the bench, and the Cavs rested most of their starters to prepare for the playoffs, where they will face the Toronto Raptors in the first round.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers have already secured home court advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs, so this game was an opportunity for the team's younger and bench players to get valuable playing time and experience before the postseason. The Wizards, on the other hand, end another disappointing season with the worst record in the NBA, securing another high lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

The details

With nearly every Cavaliers starter sitting out the finale, the team's bench and G League players stepped up to lead the way. Jamir Watkins, Bub Carrington, and former Cleveland Charge guard Sharife Cooper all scored over 20 points for the Wizards, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Cavs' depth. Jaylon Tyson, who figures to have a prominent role in the playoff rotation, had 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Max Strus had 10 points in his final tune-up before the playoffs.

  • The Cavaliers wrapped up the regular season on April 13, 2026.
  • The Cavaliers will face the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs.

The players

Nae'Qwan Tomlin

A Cavaliers player who scored 26 points in the regular season finale.

Tyrese Proctor

A Cavaliers player who scored 22 points off the bench in the regular season finale.

Jamir Watkins

A Wizards player who scored over 20 points in the regular season finale.

Bub Carrington

A Wizards player who scored over 20 points in the regular season finale.

Sharife Cooper

A former Cleveland Charge guard who scored over 20 points for the Wizards in the regular season finale.

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What’s next

The Cavaliers will take on the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs, where they will look to advance despite not having beaten the Raptors during the regular season.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' depth and development of their young players were on full display in the regular season finale, as they were able to secure a win over the Wizards despite resting their starters. This performance bodes well for the Cavs as they prepare to face the Raptors in the playoffs, where they will need contributions from their entire roster to make a deep run.