Overview
- The Cleveland Cavaliers missed their first chance to clinch the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed after a 120-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings, with their next opportunity coming against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
- Donovan Mitchell suffered an ankle scare during the game but returned to play, though his post-game condition raised concerns about his availability for upcoming games.
- The Golden State Warriors fell to sixth place in the Western Conference after a 106-96 loss to the Houston Rockets, with Stephen Curry held to just three points, his second-lowest scoring output of the season.
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr emphasized the importance of winning their final four games to secure a top-six seed and avoid the play-in tournament, beginning with a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
- Both teams face heightened stakes in the final stretch of the season, with the Cavaliers seeking home-court advantage and the Warriors aiming to maintain momentum in a tightly packed Western Conference playoff race.