Cleveland Cavaliers' Schedule Breakdown and Predictions for Season's Final Weeks

The Cleveland Cavaliers took advantage of a soft February, but they now face a daunting lineup of games in March and April.

Cleveland wrapped up the year's second month by going 8-3 overall, including 8-1 against teams not named the Indiana Pacers. Mixed in with the All-Star break were some statement wins over the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors.

March has already gotten off to a rocky start. The Cavaliers dropped their first contest of the month to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, March 1, a 105-103 overtime thriller that marked the Cavs' first loss to a Western Conference opponent in nearly seven weeks.

It doesn't get much easier from here.

Out of their 15 March games, 10 come on the road, including travels to Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio and Memphis. Cleveland does receive a favorable April, however, playing five of its seven games at Quicken Loans Arena.

The regular season wraps up on April 15 against the Washington Wizards, in a game that could potentially hold serious seeding implications.

The battle for the East's No. 1 seed may have already been decided, but the Cavaliers begin March just a game out of second. Securing it will be important, given the lack of talented teams fighting for the last two playoff spots.

This is it. The home stretch. Let's see what you got, Cavs.

March 1 Though March 7

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Key Matchup: March 6 at Atlanta Hawks (47-12)

Atlanta has built an insurmountable lead in the Eastern Conference standings, separating itself from the No. 2 Toronto Raptors by 10 games.

Other than the Pacers (whom the Cavs faced without LeBron James and Kyrie Irving on Feb. 27), the Hawks are the East's only team to have beaten the Cavaliers twice this season.

Overall, the two powerhouses have enjoyed a weird series. The Cavs plucked the Hawks 127-94 on Nov. 11 before suffering their own 127-98 beatdown on Dec. 17. The third game was decided by just eight points, with the Cavs taking the loss while James sat to rest his knee and back.

Cleveland won't catch Atlanta in the standings, but it will even up the season series with a healthy James in the lineup this time.

Other Games:

March 1 at Houston Rockets (41-18)

March 3 vs. Boston Celtics (23-33)

March 4 at Toronto Raptors (37-22)

March 7 vs. Phoenix Suns (31-29)

There's no denying the trouble this part of the schedule presents. Cleveland is forced to play seven games in 10 nights, including five in the month's first seven.

During this week alone, the Cavaliers will play in four cities, three time zones and two countries.

After a loss to the Rockets, Cleveland returns home to face a Celtics team that surprisingly sits just a game out of the East's final playoff spot. The two squads face off three times over the final six weeks. Expect a nice bounce-back victory for the Cavaliers, with Kyrie Irving making his return from a shoulder strain.

Toronto has lost five straight games and will continue to struggle against the Cavs. Cleveland enjoyed a 105-91 victory north of the border back in December, and it will take a second one here.

A home game against a Suns squad that's dropped seven of its last 10 games may seem like easy pickings, until one considers the Cavaliers' schedule, that is. This will be the Cavs' fourth game in five nights, and seventh in 10 overall.

Don't be surprised if coach David Blatt gives James the night off following a big win over the Hawks from the evening before. The Suns beat the short-handed Cavs by double digits.

Overall

Record: 3-2

Wins: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks

Losses: Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns

March 8 Through March 14

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Key Matchup: March 12 at San Antonio Spurs (36-23)

Cleveland finishes its Texas two-step against the defending champs, who are "struggling" for the first time this millennium.

The Spurs, despite owning a better record than the Cavaliers, sit No. 7 in the Western Conference standings. Injuries to Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard have plagued their season, and scoring has been hard to come by at times. Leonard leads the team with just 15 points per game.

Cleveland and San Antonio haven't met since James dribbled the ball away in the final seconds of a 92-90 Spurs victory on Nov. 19. Even with James craving revenge for that matchup—and the 2014 Finals—San Antonio will have other plans.

It still moves the ball, plays defense and knows how to win. The Spurs edge the Cavs in a close one, sweeping the two-game season series.

Other Games:

March 10 at Dallas Mavericks (39-22)

The last time the Mavs and Cavs met, Cleveland was a completely different team. James was resting, Irving was pulled with back tightness and Dion Waiters was still wearing wine and gold.

Since then, the trades for Timofey Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith have revitalized the franchise, along with MVP-like play from James.

While Dallas came away with a 109-90 win at the Q on Jan. 4, it'll now find the Cavs a much-improved franchise. Cleveland wins a high-scoring game in front of Mark Cuban and a lot of angry Texans.

Overall

Record: 1-1

Wins: Dallas Mavericks

Losses: San Antonio Spurs

March 15 Through March 21

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Key Matchup: March 20 vs. Indiana Pacers

Indiana finished February with an NBA-best 7-2 record, just like we all predicted.

The Pacers have risen all the way back to the No. 8 seed in the East, even without Paul George. They beat the Cavaliers twice last month, hanging their hat on defense and rebounding.

Irving should be thankful to face them at home, given that he's never won in Indiana during his four professional seasons.

After dropping its previous consecutive contests to the Pacers, Cleveland uses a full squad and energy from the home fans to even the season series.

Other Games:

March 15 at Orlando Magic (19-41)

March 16 at Miami Heat (25-33)

March 18 vs. Brooklyn Nets (24-33)

Thanks to playing just two games in their previous week, the Cavaliers should be fresh after getting some Texas sun.

The warm vibes continue in Florida, where Cleveland will enjoy back-to-back wins over the Magic and Heat. Orlando is the only team the Cavaliers have beaten when Irving has missed a game (1-4 overall), and the Magic are just 9-20 at home.

Miami will certainly boo James, but the Heat won't muster up the magic they had to beat the Cavaliers on Christmas Day.

The Nets are somehow, someway still in playoff contention. They stayed quiet at the deadline, even though many believed they would try to move some higher-priced players. As is, they're a below-average team that will ultimately miss the postseason. Cleveland cuts the Nets down to size in this one.

Overall

Record: 4-0

Wins: Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers

Losses: None

March 22 Through March 31

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

Key Matchup: March 25 at Memphis Grizzlies (42-16)

Arguably the NBA's best team, the Grizzlies allow a league-low 95.7 points a night.

Cleveland had its way with Memphis the first time around, as the Grizzlies struggled without power forward Zach Randolph. A 105-91 home victory was especially impressive considering the Cavs had not yet pulled off their pair of trades.

Memphis is 23-6 at home, the third-best record in the league. Cleveland will certainly be challenged offensively, and it will have to play some of its best defense of the season to have a chance.

Expect the Grizzlies to carve out a low-scoring win in a game that could come down to the final play.

Other Games:

March 22 at Milwaukee Bucks (32-27)

March 27 at Brooklyn Nets (24-33)

March 29 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (13-45)

Besides their trip to Memphis, this is a favorable end of March for the Cavaliers.

Milwaukee has more than doubled its win total from last season and can't be overlooked. Even after trading starting point guard Brandon Knight to the Phoenix Suns, the Bucks will make the playoffs when it's all said and done. For this night, however, the Cavaliers will simply be too much for Milwaukee to handle.

Again, the Nets just aren't very good. No royal family is expected to attend this time around, and the crowd may be sparse as well. Cleveland sweeps the four-game season series from Brooklyn here.

Give Brett Brown's Sixers credit; they still play hard and can employ a swarming defense at times. Unfortunately, their offense is the NBA's worst at 90.3 points a game, and that was mostly before trading former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams. The Cavaliers cruise in a home win over Philly.

Overall

Record: 3-1

Wins: Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers

Losses: Memphis Grizzlies

April 1 Through April 8

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Key Matchup: April 5 vs. Chicago Bulls (37-23)

A nice Sunday afternoon heavyweight fight between the Bulls and Cavs should serve as a delicious appetizer for the upcoming postseason.

Cleveland is 2-1 against Chicago this season, recently dropping a Feb. 12 game where many players appeared to have taken an early mental All-Star break.

Currently separated by just half a game in the standings, the Cavaliers should ultimately win the Central Division since Derrick Rose is once again out following knee surgery. While he may ultimately return for the playoffs, his presence in this game is doubtful.

The Cavaliers take a big home win over the Bulls that should secure them the Central crown.

Other Games:

April 2 vs. Miami Heat (25-33)

April 8 at Milwaukee Bucks (32-27)

Both the Heat and Bucks will still have a lot to play for at this point, and they should be considered dangerous opponents. Miami will be fighting to make the playoffs, while Milwaukee could be climbing as high as the East's No. 5 seed.

Following two straight preparation days, the Cavaliers will pound Miami in Cleveland. The Bucks will be a little tougher, but the Cavs will again have two days to game-plan before facing Jason Kidd's surprising squad.

Overall

Record: 3-0

Wins: Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks

Losses: None

April 9 Through April 15 (End of Regular Season)

Ned Dishman/Getty Images

Key Matchup: April 15 vs. Washington Wizards (34-26)

The Cavaliers' final regular-season game should be a good one.

Or will it?

Will Blatt go for the jugular and try to beat the Wizards for the third time this season, or choose to rest his star players for the playoffs instead? It should all come down to seeding. If this game means the difference between the No. 2 and No. 3 seed, expect all healthy players to be a go.

The Wizards are just 3-7 in their last 10 games and have fallen to No. 5 in the East. By this time, they could be challenging for home-court advantage again, or simply just fighting off the Bucks to stay where they're at.

This could even end up being a preview of a first-round postseason matchup, should the seedings shake out the right way. For now, we'll predict a Cavs win, assuming they don't rest anybody.

Other Games:

April 10 vs. Boston Celtics (23-33)

April 12 at Boston Celtics (23-33)

April 13 vs. Detroit Pistons (23-36)

Cleveland gets a double dose of green near the end, battling a Celtics team that should be in playoff contention.

With Blatt valuing the health of his players at this time of the year more than any other, don't be surprised to see a few Cavaliers not make the trip to Boston in between home games with the Celtics and Pistons.

Cleveland's only back-to-back in April, James, Irving and even Love could get a night off before playing the season's final two games.

Look for wins at home against the Celtics and Pistons, with a short-handed loss in Boston mixed in as well.

Overall

Record: 3-1

Wins: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards

Losses: at Boston Celtics

March-April Recap

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Although it at times appeared bleak, cloudy and full of questions, the Cleveland Cavaliers' season should finish up in good shape.

They won't match their 12-game win streak, but the Cavs should still successfully fight their way through a tough March schedule before getting to cruise a bit in April.

Along the way, a battle for the No. 2 spot in the East will take place. The Raptors, Bulls and Wizards will all stake their claim for it, but it's Cleveland that will come away in second.

A Cavaliers-Hawks Eastern Conference Finals appears likely, as they're the two most talented teams the East has to offer.

Cleveland still has to get Irving back from injury, fully figure out Love's role in the offense and let the team continue to gel.

If they can do all that, look for the Cavs to ultimately represent the East in the NBA Finals.

Overall March-April Record: 17-5

Final Season Record: 54-28, No. 2 in East

Greg Swartz has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers for Bleacher Report since 2010.

All stats provided by Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.