Cavs rounding into form down the stretch, but feisty Pelicans await

The Cleveland Cavaliers can complete a perfect three-game road trip as their trek for higher seeding in the NBA playoffs continues on Saturday in New Orleans vs. the Pelicans.

Heading into the final 12 games of the regular season, Cleveland (43-27) already has clinched no worse than a spot in a play-in game. They are two games behind third-place New York and 3 1/2 behind second-place Boston through Thursday's slate.

Cleveland kept pace on Thursday, but needed to hold off a furious, fourth-quarter comeback at Chicago.