Cavs feel the Heat

Losing to the Atlanta Hawks on April 7 at Quicken Loans Arena put a crimp in the plans of Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue for the final three games of the regular season.

Instead of having a twogame lead over the Boston Celtics with a magic number of one to clinch the NBA East, the lead is down to a half-game and the magic number is still two as the Cavaliers prepare to play the Hawks in Atlanta on April 9.

Lue wants to rest LeBron James and Kyrie Irving against the Heat in Miami on April 10, but the Cavaliers and Celtics would have identical records if the Cavs lose in Atlanta. The Cavs won’t have a chance if they don’t play better than they did while losing to the Hawks at The Q.

“These games like this come back and bite you, especially down the stretch when you’re trying to get some rest,” Lue said after the April 7 game. “Trying to hold onto that No. 1 seed and getting rest and you come out and have a performance like this, it’s not good.”

The Celtics finish the season with a home game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 10 and a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 12. The Cavs close the regular season at home against Toronto April 12.

The problem for Lue is exacerbated because Irving’s left knee is bothering him. Irving fractured his left kneecap in the 2015 NBA Finals. He was examined in the Cavs locker room late in the third quarter April 7 but returned to finish the game.

Winning the East obviously is secondary to having Irving ready for the playoffs. The Cavs are expected to begin defense of their NBA title at home on April 16, but whether that will be as the first seed or second seed is to be determined.