Cleveland: The Charlotte Bobcats are headed back to the NBA playoffs for just the second time in club history after a 96-94 overtime victory over Cleveland on Saturday.
Al Jefferson scored seven of his 24 points in the extra period and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to help Charlotte clinch a post-season spot for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.
Kemba Walker scored 20 points and Gerald Henderson added 15 for the Bobcats.
Cleveland star Kyrie Irving’s career-high 44 points — to go with eight assists and seven rebounds — was in vain as the Cavaliers’ playoff hopes dimmed even further.
The Cavs trail Atlanta by 3 1/2 games for the eighth and final place in the Eastern Conference with just four games remaining.
Except for Irving’s outstanding performance, both teams struggled on offense, neither managing to shoot 40 per cent from the field.
Bobcats centre Jefferson said, “Our legs weren’t under us and our shots weren’t falling... But we ground it out.”
