Donovan Mitchell had a rough shooting performance, and Darius Garland was sidelined with an injury, but Cleveland still dominated in a 124-87 victory over Miami, taking a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 22 points, De’Andre Hunter added 21, and the team imposed its will on Miami, handing the Heat their worst playoff loss ever.
Cleveland seized control early with a 33-5 run, out-rebounding Miami 46-29 and outscoring them 60-30 in the paint. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson highlighted rebounding as a key factor, praising his team’s defensive execution.
Evan Mobley contributed 19 points, while Max Strus added 18. Ty Jerome impressed with 13 points and 11 assists in just 22 minutes, finishing with a plus-33 rating. Mitchell managed 13 points but struggled with his shooting, finishing 4-for-14. Despite his struggles and Garland’s absence due to a sprained toe, Cleveland had more than enough firepower to dominate.
Miami’s coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged his team’s struggles, emphasizing how hard the Heat fought to make it to the playoffs, despite their current dire situation. Bam Adebayo led Miami with 22 points, and Davion Mitchell added 16, but it was not enough to prevent a blowout.
This was Miami’s worst playoff loss, surpassing a 36-point defeat in Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals. The Cavaliers now look to complete a sweep in Game 4 at Miami on Monday, with Cleveland aiming to become the 159th team in NBA history to hold a 3-0 series lead and close it out.
Cleveland’s dominance came after a shaky start by the Heat. Miami led for the first 5 1/2 minutes before Cleveland went on a 33-5 tear. During this run, the Cavaliers shot an incredible 13 for 17, including five straight 3-pointers over a 2-minute stretch, turning a 15-6 deficit into a 39-20 lead.
Mobley reflected on the game, saying, “We took the first punch. And from there we just took the game over.” By halftime, Cleveland was up 62-42. Even though they missed their first eight shots in the second half, Miami couldn’t capitalize, scoring only four points during that stretch. By the time the third quarter ended with Cleveland leading 88-64, the game was essentially decided.
Spoelstra expressed his disappointment after the heavy loss, acknowledging the Heat’s struggles in what could be a series-ending defeat.
