NBA scores 2017: Celtics tie Cavaliers for No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference

LeBron James’ teams often miss the top overall seed in the East, but does this year matter more than usual?

Mar 27, 2017, 12:00 PM UTC

NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Note: With Cleveland losing to San Antonio on Monday, Boston officially claims the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. It’s the first time all season Cleveland has lost it.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics are now tied for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics have both won and lost one more game than Cleveland, so technically they’re still behind Cleveland. However, with a Cavaliers showdown against the San Antonio Spurs looming on Monday, Boston could claim that top spot in the Eastern Conference merely by sitting home and watching.

It doesn’t seem like the Cavaliers think the No. 1 seed is important to them, or so says ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Despite LeBron James running the Eastern Conference with six straight Finals appearances, his teams have only been the top seed a few times — last year, once in Miami, and twice in his first Cleveland stint.

In a potential series against the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland already has it locked up that it won’t have home court advantage. However, it might be a mistake to assume the Cavs can sweep through the East like they have in years past without having ultimate home court advantage in the first three rounds. This season’s version of Boston and Washington are formidable teams. The security blanket of a Game 7 at home would be a nice one to have.

WINNER: The Nets have a better record than the Cavaliers this month

Facts only — Brooklyn is 7-8, while the Cavaliers are just 6-8.

To be sure, Brooklyn going from 9-49 to 16-57 doesn’t have the Nets in danger of losing the top overall selection yet. It’s incredibly unlikely that would happen, but with their pick going to Boston anyway, it’s not like keeping it would really matter.

It’s going to be a tough few seasons for the Nets, but they have a few exciting players who could factor into the future who have been playing well. Hopefully, that remains true.

LOSER: The Clippers collapsing late again

Coming into Sunday, there had been 369 instances of teams leading by 18 points with five minutes remaining in the game. In all 369 instances, the team leading had won, as you would expect them to.

On Sunday, this happened to Los Angeles. The Clippers didn’t just lose that lead, and lose that game, but they lost to the Sacramento Kings at home.

It seems like every time the Clippers take a step forwards, they immediately take one back.