Cavaliers destroy Miami in Playoffs With Dominant Game 1 Win

Key Points Summary – Cavaliers destroy Miami in Playoffs

• The Cleveland Cavaliers started their 2025 playoff run with a bang, beating the Miami Heat 121-100 in Game 1 of the first-round series.
• Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points and tied his playoff career-high with four steals, showing his ankle is just fine.
• Ty Jerome shocked everyone with 28 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, in his first-ever playoff game.
• Darius Garland added 27 points, as the Cavs drained 18 three-pointers to light up the scoreboard.
• Cleveland took the lead late in the first quarter and never gave it back.
• The Heat, led by Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, kept it close until the fourth, but couldn’t keep up with the Cavs’ firepower.
• Game 2 is set for Wednesday in Cleveland, where the Cavs will look to go up 2-0 in the series.

Cavaliers destroy Miami in Playoffs – And It Looks Like Cleveland Means Business

Cleveland fans, rejoice! The Cavaliers are officially back in playoff form, and they made that crystal clear with a scorching 121-100 win over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

This wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. From start to finish, Cleveland controlled the game, moved the ball with confidence, and lit up the scoreboard like it was a Fourth of July celebration inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

And the best part? This Cavs team is just getting started.

Donovan Mitchell Delivers Again – A True Playoff Superstar

Heading into the game, there were whispers about Donovan Mitchell’s ankle and whether he’d be at full strength.

Well, consider those whispers silenced.

Mitchell scored 30 points, tied his playoff career high with four steals, and once again proved why he’s one of the most reliable playoff performers in the league. He’s now scored 30 or more in seven straight Game 1s, tying none other than Michael Jordan.

“Just setting the tone,” Mitchell said. “I have to be aggressive and see how the defense reacts to me.”

And react they did—poorly. Mitchell was unstoppable from everywhere on the floor.

Ty Jerome Steals the Show – Welcome to the Playoffs!

Every playoff game needs a surprise star—and on Sunday night, it was Ty Jerome.

Making his postseason debut, Jerome came off the bench and scored a jaw-dropping 28 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter. He was 6-of-7 from the field and hit all three of his three-point attempts in the final period.

“He turned the game for us. He did it all tonight,” said coach Kenny Atkinson.

It was the kind of breakout performance that fans live for—and one that completely crushed Miami’s comeback hopes.

Darius Garland Lights It Up – The Cavs’ Second Star Shines Bright

While Mitchell and Jerome handled the spotlight, Darius Garland was rock-solid, adding 27 points and hitting five threes of his own.

Garland looked calm, collected, and confident—everything you want in your point guard come playoff time.

The Cavaliers, as a team, went 18-of-43 from beyond the arc, showing their lethal potential from long range.

The Heat Had No Answers – But Fought to Stay in It

Give credit to the Miami Heat. They didn’t roll over.

Bam Adebayo scored 24 points, and Tyler Herro added 21, doing their best to keep the Heat afloat. After falling behind by 16 in the second quarter, Miami battled back and cut the lead to just eight points with 7:26 remaining in the fourth.

But then Ty Jerome went nuclear, and the game slipped away for good.

“They were a lot more physical than us,” Herro said. “And that obviously set the tone. We’ve got to clean that up.”

Cleveland Controlled the Game From the Start

The game was tied at 22 late in the first quarter, but Cleveland closed it with a 9-2 run, taking a seven-point lead into the second quarter. They never trailed again.

From that moment on, it was all Cavaliers:

• Ball movement was sharp
• Defense was tight
• Energy was sky-high

The Cavs forced 15 Miami turnovers, turning them into 24 points—the kind of killer instinct that championship teams are made of.

Mitchell Is Locked In – And So Is His Team

After last year’s disappointing playoff exit, Mitchell promised to better prepare his teammates for this postseason run.

Mission accomplished.

“I have a great group of guys around me,” he said. “They obviously played amazing.”

It’s not just Mitchell. It’s Garland. And it’s Jerome. It’s the bench. It’s the defense. And t’s a team that looks like it knows what it takes to win.

Game 2 Coming Wednesday – Can Cleveland Keep Rolling?

The Cavs will host Game 2 at home on Wednesday night, and with momentum on their side, they’ll be looking to take a 2-0 stranglehold on the series.

If they play with the same confidence and pace, it’s hard to see Miami stopping them.

Coach Atkinson knows the job isn’t done yet.

“We played hard and competitive,” he said. “We made some unforced errors, but we’ll clean it up. We’re just getting started.”

Cavaliers destroy Miami in Playoffs – And Look Like Real Contenders

The Cavaliers rout Miami in playoffs headline isn’t just hype—it’s the truth.

They didn’t just win Game 1. They dominated, intimidated, and electrified their fans with a performance that screamed title contender.

With Donovan Mitchell healthy, Darius Garland cooking, and new heroes like Ty Jerome stepping up, this Cleveland team looks like it has everything it needs to make a deep playoff run.

And who knows? If they keep this up, we might just be watching the Cavaliers and Celtics battle it out for a trip to the Finals.

Until then, enjoy the show, Cavs fans. Because this team? They’re built to win.