The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t do enough to secure the number one spot in the Eastern Conference. A combination of timely shot-making from the Sacramento Kings and a lack of shot-making from the Cavs did them in. They fell 120-113.

The Cavs were the better team in the first half, but couldn’t create any separation. They briefly took a seven-point lead, but a half-court shot from Keon Ellis at the buzzer made it just a one-point lead for the Cavaliers at the break.

The Cavs had a strong start to the third quarter, but that was quickly derailed when Donovan Mitchell accidentally stepped on Keon Ellis’ foot while jogging back on defense. He appeared to roll his ankle and immediately went back to the locker room to be evaluated.

Mitchell returned later that quarter, but the momentum had already swung the other way. Sacramento outscored the Cavs 35-17 from that moment on. They took a 12-point advantage into the fourth.

It didn’t take long for Mitchell to show that his ankle was alright. He scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and assisted on the next basket from Evan Mobley. That gave the building more energy than it had all evening.

The Cavs went on a 10-2 run to open the fourth. It seemed like they were going to take control of the game and win just as they’ve continually done all season, but that didn’t happen.

Sacramento fought back from there. Both teams traded blows throughout the fourth, but DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine’s shotmaking proved to be too much down the stretch. It was an eerie repeat of their meeting in March, just without the endless string of offensive rebounds.

It sounds overly simplistic or reductive, but the Cavs just didn’t make enough shots. Cleveland shot just 10-38 (26.3%) from three and 11-19 (57.9%) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Kings connected on 14-33 (42.4%) of their triples and 18-22 (81.8%) from the line. That was the difference in the game.

The Kings were led by LaVine. He poured in 37 points on 7-11 shooting from three. DeRozan contributed 28 points and seven helpers in the win.

Ty Jerome was the only Cavalier who scored 20 or more points. He finished with 20 on 9-13 shooting. Mitchell provided 19 points on 7-16 shooting with seven rebounds and six assists. Mobley had 16 points and nine rebounds. Garland had just nine points on 4-13 shooting with seven assists.

The Cavs’ magic number to clinch the one seed remains one. They’ll have a chance to do that when they host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.