MIAMI (WE) – Even without an explosive night from Donovan Mitchell and missing Darius Garland, the Cleveland Cavaliers showed why they are emerging as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
In a stunning display of depth, aggression, and discipline, Cleveland steamrolled the Miami Heat 124-87 on Saturday afternoon at Kaseya Center, moving to the brink of a second-round appearance for the first time since the LeBron James era.
It was the worst playoff loss in Miami’s franchise history, surpassing a 36-point defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals. For Cleveland, the emphatic win reinforced that this young, hungry team is writing a new chapter — one no longer tied to the shadows of its most famous son.
Cavaliers Dominate Early and Often
The Heat actually came out strong, jumping to a 15-6 lead midway through the first quarter. But whatever early momentum Miami generated quickly evaporated under Cleveland’s suffocating defense and relentless rebounding.
In a stunning 8-minute span, the Cavaliers unleashed a 33-5 run, flipping the game on its head. During that stretch, Cleveland shot 13-of-17 from the floor, drained five straight three-pointers, and bullied Miami at both ends.
“We took the first punch,” said Evan Mobley, who finished with 19 points. “And from there, we just took the game over.”
By the end of the first quarter, the Cavaliers had seized a 39-20 lead — and they never looked back.
Total Team Effort
Despite Donovan Mitchell having a tough shooting night — scoring just 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting — Cleveland’s balanced attack overwhelmed Miami.
Jarrett Allen led the way with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, bullying Miami’s frontline in the paint.
De’Andre Hunter added 21 points, attacking from the perimeter and the midrange.
Newcomer Ty Jerome was brilliant off the bench, contributing 13 points and 11 assists in just 22 minutes. He posted a +33 plus-minus, an eye-popping stat that underlined his impact.
Meanwhile, Max Strus — facing his former team — added 18 points and shot 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.
And impressively, all of this came without Darius Garland, the All-Star guard sidelined with a sprained toe.
“Our guys knew that was the key — rebounding and winning the rebounding battle,” said Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson. “We really executed defensively.”
Cleveland outrebounded Miami 46-29 and outscored them 60-30 in the paint, highlighting the physical domination.
Miami’s Struggles Continue
For Heat fans, it was an afternoon to forget.
Jimmy Butler, playing through a nagging knee injury, was visibly limited. He managed only 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting and often looked disengaged.
Bam Adebayo did his best, finishing with 22 points, but lacked consistent support.
Davion Mitchell added 16 points, but Miami’s offense was disjointed, sloppy, and overmatched.
“Look, our guys really want this, and it probably looks like our guys don’t,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said postgame. “But I know what our last six weeks have been like, just to fight and scratch and claw to get into this.”
Indeed, Miami has spent the past two months battling for playoff positioning, surviving the NBA Play-In Tournament just to make the field. That exhaustion showed.
Historic Beating
The 37-point margin broke Miami’s previous worst playoff loss, a 36-point defeat to San Antonio in Game 3 of the 2013 NBA Finals — a year the Heat rallied back to win the championship.
But unlike that veteran, star-studded squad featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, this Miami team appears to be nearing the end of its line.
No NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series — and Cleveland is poised to make sure that doesn’t change.
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What’s Next?
Game 4 will be Monday night at Kaseya Center, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Cavaliers have a chance to deliver the franchise’s first non-LeBron series sweep in team history.
Historically, the Cavaliers have gone up 3-0 in a playoff series 10 times — every single instance led to a 4-0 sweep, but all during LeBron James’ tenure.
This young core, led by Mitchell, Mobley, and Allen, is trying to make its own mark.
“We’re not satisfied yet,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got one more to go.”
For Miami, pride will be on the line. For Cleveland, history awaits.
Key Performers
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrett Allen | Cavaliers | 22 | 7 | 2 |
| De’Andre Hunter | Cavaliers | 21 | 5 | 3 |
| Evan Mobley | Cavaliers | 19 | 9 | 1 |
| Max Strus | Cavaliers | 18 | 4 | 2 |
| Ty Jerome | Cavaliers | 13 | 4 | 11 |
| Bam Adebayo | Heat | 22 | 6 | 3 |
| Davion Mitchell | Heat | 16 | 2 | 4 |
| Jimmy Butler | Heat | 14 | 3 | 2 |
Final Thoughts
The Cavaliers have arrived.
After a season filled with injuries, inconsistencies, and questions, Cleveland looks like a team that no one in the East should take lightly.
Meanwhile, Miami faces a difficult offseason if Game 4 turns out to be the final chapter of this era.
Big decisions loom regarding Pat Riley’s front office, Erik Spoelstra’s future direction, and whether Jimmy Butler remains the face of the franchise moving forward.
But in the present, one thing is clear:
The Cavaliers are taking care of business — and doing it in style.
