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Cavs hammer Grizzlies, secure home-court in first round

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Apr 6, 2026 11:12 PM ET

The Cavaliers haven’t always been pretty (far from it), but are stacking wins. Three straight now.

And this one? It actually meant a lot.

Cleveland went into Memphis shorthanded for the second night of a back-to-back, and it was no problem. Took care of business anyway.

More importantly, they have now officially secured a top-four seed in the East. That’s the headline. That’s home-court in Round 1.

And thanks to the Knicks taking care of the Hawks, they’re basically locked into No. 4. That’s where a lot of people who root for them were hoping for.

Now to the game.

Jarrett Allen continues to be the steady force. Dunking everything, anchoring everything. One of those nights where you’re reminded he’s the glue more than the flash.

Then came the bench mob.

Keon Ellis keeps earning minutes. Sixteen points, attacking, athletic, active. Not just filling space, but making plays.

Jarrett Allen with the handles and the big time THROWDOWN!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Up0DgCR9W0

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Nae’Qwan Tomlin? Energy guy. Nine boards, four on the offensive glass. Just crashing everything in sight.

And how about Craig Porter Jr. Eight rebounds, two steals, two blocks — and he’s listed at 6-foot-1. That’s not normal production from that size. That’s effort and instincts.

So yeah, depth showed up. Big time.

But let’s not pretend it was perfect.

The Cavs’ three-point defense remains… let’s call it “an adventure.” Memphis — not exactly the 2016 Warriors — hit 29 threes. Twenty-nine. That’s tied for an NBA record.

That’s not just a bad night. That’s a flashing warning sign with the playoffs around the corner.

Still, wins are wins. Especially this time of year. Especially when you’re resting guys and still getting contributions up and down the roster.

But no matter how you spin it, the Cavs at least will enter the postseason with home-court advantage for a round.

Now comes the real question — can they defend well enough when it actually matters?

This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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