CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers aren’t desperately trying to set their franchise record for regular-season wins, but they’re in striking distance anyway with roughly two weeks left on the schedule and after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-116 on Thursday night.

The Cavs would need to go 8-1 in their final nine games to finish 67-15. The 2008-09 Cavs led by LeBron James hold the club record for most regular-season wins (66-16). However, the 2024-25 Cavs are prioritizing a deep playoff run and routinely resting players as part of their preparation for it (see All-Star Evan Mobley on Thursday). If they can stick to their postseason-prep process and set the record, just view the latter as a bonus.

The Cavs’ magic number to clinch the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference is now five. Here is how Cavs (59-14) versus Spurs (31-41) unfolded through our updates at Rocket Arena:

Cavs use clutch defense to force turnovers, take control late and beat Spurs 124-116

A steal by Cavs wing De’Andre Hunter secured by small forward Max Strus with 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter led to a layup by point guard Darius Garland with 20.7 seconds remaining. The sequence gave the Cavs a 122-114 lead.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

With 1:16 left, Garland drained a 3-pointer to give the Cavs a 120-114 advantage.

Earlier, a blocked shot by center Jarrett Allen and a subsequent steal by Garland turned into a three-point play by Allen at the other end of the floor after he made a layup and an accompanying free throw with 2:28 left. The Cavs went ahead 117-112.

Allen led the Cavs with 29 points and 16 rebounds. He scored 27 of his points in the second half, including 19 in the fourth quarter.

Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell finished with 25 points, a career-high 14 assists and eight rebounds, falling just shy of what was nearly his first career triple-double. Strus and Hunter added 18 and 14 points, respectively. Guard Sam Merrill scored 13 points. Garland had 10 points and nine assists.

Forward Devin Vassell and rookie guard Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 22 points apiece.

Cavs rally with 7-0 run and seize 109-104 lead after falling behind Spurs in the fourth quarter

After falling behind 104-102, the Cavs rallied.

Wing Javonte Green made a 3-pointer and Allen added a hook shot and a putback dunk to account for a 7-0 Cleveland run.

The Spurs responded by calling timeout with 4:49 left in the fourth quarter and facing a 109-104 deficit.

Cavs center Tristan Thompson ejected for flagrant 2 foul with 9:36 left in the fourth quarter

The Cavs led 89-88 with 9:36 left in the fourth quarter when center Tristan Thompson was called for a loose ball foul on Spurs forward Julian Champagnie. Through a replay review, the officials determined Thompson delivered unnecessary and excessive contact to the head of Champagnie. Thompson’s left elbow hit the back of Champagnie’s head. Thompson’s foul was deemed a flagrant 2 and he was ejected from the game.

The foul proved to be costly. Champagnie made two free throws and then a 3-pointer to give the Spurs a 93-89 lead.

Cavs lead Spurs 86-83 at the end of the third quarter

Sloppy? Disjointed? Too many stoppages?

Sure, but the Cavs led 86-83 at the end of the third quarter, with Mitchell hammering a two-handed dunk with 16 seconds left to send the crowd at Rocket Arena into a frenzy.

Through three quarters, Mitchell had 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. This is his 534th career regular-season game, and he has yet to record a triple-double. Will it happen in the fourth quarter?

Cavs lead 74-72 during a Spurs challenge with 5:09 left in the third quarter

The Spurs challenged a loose ball foul while trailing 74-72 with 5:09 left in the third quarter. The Spurs won the challenge, resulting in a foul on Merrill.

The Cavs regained a 74-72 lead when Garland made a 3-pointer with 5:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Garland’s 3 came moments after Spurs forward Harrison Barnes’ three-point play gave San Antonio a one-point edge with 6:02 left.

Two easy Jarrett Allen baskets give Cavs 61-53 advantage and compel Spurs to call timeout early in the third quarter

With 10:59 left in the third quarter, the Cavs led 61-53, and the Spurs called timeout.

Allen made a layup and a dunk, both on assists from Mitchell, prompting San Antonio to presumably discuss its lack of defense.

Mitchell had 10 assists at this point, giving him a double-double (he also had 15 points). He also dished out an assist on Strus’ 3-pointer coming out of halftime. In other words, Mitchell assisted on each of the Cavs’ first three field goals of the second half.

Cleveland Cavaliers lead San Antonio Spurs 54-49 at halftime

The Cavs led the Spurs 54-49 at halftime.

Mitchell led the Cavs with 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field (2 of 5 on 3-pointers) and seven assists in the first half. Strus, Hunter and small forward Isaac Okoro added nine points apiece for Cleveland.

Forward Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs in the first half by scoring nine points off the bench.

Cleveland Cavs lead 46-36 with 6:11 remaining in the second quarter

The Cavs took a timeout with 6:11 left in the second quarter after Champagnie made back-to-back 3-pointers to trim San Antonio’s deficit to 46-36.

The Cavs went on a 16-6 run to begin the second quarter.

Cavaliers lead 39-30 vs. Spurs with 8:52 left in the second quarter

Merrill started the scoring in the second quarter with a 3-pointer. He also made a fast-break layup with 8:52 left on an assist from Thompson, extending the Cavs’ lead to 39-30 and sending the Spurs into a timeout.

With 9:07 left in the second quarter, Okoro produced a highlight by dunking on Champagnie on an assist from Mitchell.

Cavs lead Spurs 30-24 at end of first quarter

The Cavs led the Spurs 30-24 at the end of the opening quarter.

Cleveland didn’t take its first lead until Strus drained a 3-pointer with 5:15 left in the first quarter, but the Cavs caught fire from deep late in the quarter.

Mitchell, Okoro and forward Dean Wade combined to make three consecutive 3s in the final 2:03 of the first quarter.

Mitchell led the Cavs with 10 points through one quarter.

Cavs use 11-3 run and a De’Andre Hunter 3-pointer to tie score 11-11

After the Cavs fell behind 8-0 to start the game, they went on an 11-3 run to tie the score 11-11.

Hunter came off the bench with 7:11 left in the first quarter and made his first shot, a 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining. The made 3 tied the score 11-11 and caused the Spurs to call timeout with 6:19 left.

Spurs jump out to 8-0 lead, with Stephon Castle sending the Cavs into a timeout

Castle used one hand to throw down a putback dunk with 9:24 left in the first quarter, giving the Spurs an 8-0 lead and prompting Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson to use a timeout.

The Cavs started the game 0-of-6 shooting from the field while the Spurs began 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. Castle had four of San Antonio’s first eight points.

Here is some pregame information:

What is the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ magic number to clinch NBA Eastern Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed? How close are the Boston Celtics?

The Eastern Conference-leading Cavs entered Thursday with a 4.5-game advantage in the standings over the second-place and defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (54-19).

The Cavs’ magic number to clinch the No. 1 playoff seed in the East is now five. In this case, the Cavs’ magic number represents a combination of Cleveland wins and Boston losses.

Cleveland Cavaliers column: Cavs’ wins record is not a priority and why it shouldn’t be

One scheduling note to monitor: The Cavs will play their penultimate back-to-back of the season Thursday against the Spurs and Friday at the Detroit Pistons (fifth in the East, 41-32). Led by former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the Pistons are off Thursday.

Cleveland’s final back-to-back is slated for April 10 and 11 at the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. The Cavs will host the Pacers on April 13 in the regular-season finale.

The Cavs are 31-5 at home and 28-9 on the road this season. With their 122-111 win Tuesday at the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cavs set a team record for most road wins in a single regular season.

Cavs injury report

The Cavs have ruled out forward Evan Mobley (rest) and rookie wing Jaylon Tyson (left knee bone bruise). They have listed point guard Ty Jerome (left knee soreness) as questionable, but Atkinson said during his pregame media availability Jerome is expected to sit out. (Update: Jerome did not play.)

Atkinson said he expects Jerome to return to action soon. Atkinson also said Tyson participated in an on-court workout Thursday morning, so he’s “trending in the right direction.”

More Cleveland Cavaliers coverage: ‘He’s part of the Big 4’: Cavs see Jarrett Allen as vital, humble part of the roster

Spurs injury report

The Spurs have ruled out center Charles Bassey (left knee), guard De’Aaron Fox (finger surgery) and center Victor Wembanyama (deep vein thrombosis in right shoulder).

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School graduate Malaki Branham plays for the San Antonio Spurs

Cavs versus Spurs will represent another homecoming game for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School graduate Malaki Branham.

A Columbus native, Branham parlayed success under coach Dru Joyce II at STVM into one season with Ohio State before the Spurs drafted him in the first round (20th overall) in 2022.

Entering Thursday, Branham had been averaging 3.9 points on 44% shooting from the field and one rebound in 8.2 minutes this season.

(Update: Branham did not play.)

Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs, Spurs game?

Thursday’s game will be televised locally by the FanDuel Sports Network. It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).

Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.