Bickerstaff lands new deal with Cavs

J.B. Bickerstaff ’s impressive start with the Cavaliers has been rewarded.

Bickerstaff, who has the Cavs playing their best basketball this season since taking over when John Beilein suddenly resigned last month, agreed to a multi-year contract with the team Tuesday.

The Cavs announced the deal with Bickerstaff shortly before their game against the Bulls in Chicago, where they started a six-game trip.

Terms of the deal weren’t released, but ESPN reported that that it’s a four-year contract through the 2023-24 season.

Although they still have one of the league’s worst records, the Cavs have shown major improvement in a short period under Bickerstaff. They were 5-5 going into Tuesday’s game, and the Cavs have had more energy and exhibited more togetherness than at any time for Beilein.

“They bought in automatically,” Bickerstaff said before tip-off in Chicago. “They’re competing, playing together and doing all the things we’ve been trying to push. They’ve led the way and made it easy for us as coaches. It’s exciting just to be a part of it.

“... It’s our jobs as coaches to just steer the ship a little bit.”

Bickerstaff was promoted after Beilein stepped down after 54 games in his first season. He had been serving as an associate head coach under the 67-year-old Beilein, who cited personal health issues as one of his reasons for leaving a job he thought he was ready to handle.

The 41-year-old Bickerstaff previously coached the Rockets and Grizzlies.

Celtics clinch: Marcus Smart’s leaning bank shot in the final minute gave the Celtics’ the lead after the team blew a 19-point advantage and the Celtics held on for a 114-111 victory over the host Pacers to clinch a playoff spot for a sixth consecutive year.

Jayson Tatum scored 30 points for the Celtics, while Gordon Hayward added 27 points, 10 boards and five assists in his home state.