The Cleveland Cavaliers edged the New Orleans Pelicans 111-106 on the road in a tightly contested NBA matchup at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2026. This result was crucial for the Cavaliers' seeding in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, secured by a late-game defensive stand. The Pelicans started strong, leveraging their home-court advantage to take a slim lead after the first quarter, but the Cavaliers clawed back behind the stellar play of their All-Star guard. The game see-sawed in the second half, with the score tied multiple times in the fourth quarter before the Cavs executed a critical 7-0 run in the final three minutes. A key focus point was a controversial no-call on a potential charge/block situation in the final minute that allowed Cleveland to maintain possession and sink a clutch jumper. The Cavaliers' victory solidified their hold on a top-four spot in the East, while the Pelicans' loss was a setback in their fight to avoid the play-in tournament in the West. The Pelicans' coach lamented his team's inability to secure defensive rebounds in crunch time, and the Cavaliers' coach highlighted his team's resilience on a tough road trip. The Cavs' starting five was at full strength, while the Pelicans were led by their formidable frontcourt duo.