MIAMI — Despite an off day for Donovan Mitchell, and the absence of Darius Garland due to injury, the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Miami Heat and moved one step closer to the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Powered by an impressive 22 points from Jarrett Allen, and another 21 from De’Andre Hunter, the Cavaliers delivered a devastating performance, handing Miami their worst-ever playoff defeat with a 124-87 victory on Saturday. This triumph secured a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series for Cleveland.
The Cavaliers imposed their will with a commanding 33-5 scoring spree early in the game. Their dominance on the boards was evident, outrebounding the Heat 46-29, while tallying an overwhelming 60 points in the paint compared to Miami’s 30.
“Our focus was on rebounding and taking control in that area,” explained Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “We executed our defensive strategy flawlessly.”
Evan Mobley contributed 19 points and Max Strus added 18 for the Cavaliers, while Ty Jerome notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists in just 22 minutes, finishing with a plus-minus of plus-33. Donovan Mitchell managed 13 points despite struggling with his aim, going 4-for-14 from the field.
Even without contributions from All-Star guard Garland, sidelined with a toe injury, the Cavaliers maintained their strength and efficiency on the court.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the disparity in performance but also recognized his team’s recent struggles and efforts to reach the playoffs. “Our guys are committed to this, but the last six weeks have taken a toll in every game,” Spoelstra reflected.
For Miami, Bam Adebayo led the effort with 22 points, while Davion Mitchell chipped in 16. The shocking margin set by Cleveland surpassed Miami’s prior largest playoff defeat margin, a 36-point loss to San Antonio in the 2013 NBA Finals, during which the Heat eventually secured the championship.
The Cavaliers are aiming for a clean sweep in Game 4, scheduled to take place Monday in Miami. Historically, Cleveland has never squandered a 3-0 series lead, with ten prior sweeps occurring during the LeBron James eras.
In the NBA, no team has ever successfully come back from a 3-0 deficit, a fact that became evident as Oklahoma City joined the ranks by completing a sweep of Memphis the same day.
Miami initially showed control in the game’s opening five and a half minutes. However, it was Cleveland’s strong response, initiated by their 33-5 run, that turned the tide. Over a dynamic eight-minute stretch, the Cavaliers shot 13-for-17, scoring seamlessly on eight consecutive possessions and sinking five quick 3-pointers, effectively transforming the game’s momentum.
A score of 15-6 in Miami’s favor quickly flipped to 39-20 for Cleveland.
“We absorbed their initial intensity,” Mobley commented. “Then, we just dictated the pace from that point on.”
While Cleveland faltered at the start of the second half by missing eight straight shots, Miami failed to capitalize, generating only four points during that period. Cleveland entered the final quarter with a 88-64 lead, a scoreline they maintained until the horn sounded.
“Undeniably, it was a day below our expectations,” Spoelstra noted about his team’s performance.