CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers edged past the Miami Heat with a 112-107 victory on Wednesday night, marking their 12th consecutive win. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavalier’s charge with 26 points, complemented by Darius Garland’s impressive contribution of 10 assists. Despite some nervy moments in the final minutes, Cleveland held on to secure the victory and became the first team to secure a playoff berth this season.
The Cavaliers faced a resilient Heat squad, who were battling with an array of injuries among key players. Miami briefly took a lead, 107-106, with just under three minutes remaining in the game. However, they failed to score for the rest of the match, and Duncan Robinson’s potentially game-equalizing three-pointer was rightfully nullified as he had stepped out of bounds. Bam Adebayo stood out for Miami with a season-topping 34 points in the absence of the leading scorer Tyler Herro.
The Heat were notably short-handed, missing players such as Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins due to varied injuries, and Herro who was sidelined by a cold. This forced Miami to adjust their offensive strategy considerably. Nevertheless, Adebayo’s performance stood out as he flawlessly made nine free throws and tallied 12 rebounds in his 38 minutes of game time.
For the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter significantly contributed with 16 points each, lending the necessary support to Mitchell’s efforts. However, the Cavs’ late-game execution left much to be desired, with Mitchell committing two critical turnovers in the closing stages. Still, the team proved resilient, showcasing why they have been one of the teams to beat this season.
A significant moment in the game was Miami’s Kevin Love playing in Cleveland for the first time since his move to the Heat. Love, who played a pivotal role in the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA Championship win, was warmly received by the Cleveland fans, who celebrated his contributions with a standing ovation and a tribute video during a timeout early in the match.
Notably, Cleveland’s current streak highlights their dominance as they are one of only seven NBA teams to achieve three double-digit win streaks within the same season.
Looking ahead, the Miami Heat will start a series of home games when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers gear up for a match in Charlotte against the Hornets, hoping to build on their already impressive winning streak.
