Cavaliers Beat Pacers, Clinch Playoff Berth

The Cleveland Cavaliers let the words “world championship” slip into their vocabulary almost casually Monday night after they clinched their second playoff berth in the last 10 seasons by beating the Indiana Pacers, 112-107.

“I don’t want to say we’re going to win the world championship, but we’re not satisfied with just getting into the playoffs,” said guard Mark Price, whose two free throws with seven seconds left put the game out of reach.

The playoff appearance will be the first for Cleveland since 1984-85.

Cleveland (40-40) won for the ninth time in its last 11 games and assured itself of finishing no worse than seventh in the Eastern Conference. Indiana, which has lost seven straight road games, dropped a game behind New York and Washington, who are tied for the final two playoff spots with three games to play.