Cavaliers Surge Past Heat in Game 1 Behind Mitchell and Jerome’s Firepower

CLEVELAND, OH. (WE) — The Cleveland Cavaliers made a loud statement to open their 2025 NBA Playoffs campaign, dispatching the Miami Heat 121-100 on Sunday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Donovan Mitchell once again rose to the playoff stage with 30 points, while Ty Jerome delivered a breakout performance off the bench, scoring 28 points—including 16 in the fourth quarter—in his playoff debut.

The Cavaliers, who finished the regular season as the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, lived up to their billing in front of a packed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd. Miami, meanwhile, became the first No. 10 seed in league history to reach the playoffs through the Play-In Tournament, but couldn’t sustain their second-half rally.

Mitchell Matches Jordan in Playoff Game 1 Streak

Donovan Mitchell’s Game 1 brilliance has become a postseason tradition. Sunday marked the seventh consecutive playoff series opener in which he scored at least 30 points, tying Michael Jordan’s record of seven straight Game 1s with 30 or more points. Jordan achieved that feat twice during his career.

Mitchell controlled the tempo from the outset, scoring efficiently from the mid-range and beyond the arc. He connected on 11 of 22 shots, including 4-of-9 from deep, and added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a well-rounded performance that paced Cleveland through critical stretches.

“Game 1 is about setting the tone,” Mitchell said postgame. “We knew Miami would come in with momentum from the Play-In, so we wanted to hit first. Everyone stepped up tonight—especially Ty [Jerome]. He was the X-factor.”

Jerome’s Fourth Quarter Eruption Seals the Win

While Mitchell’s consistency was expected, the night’s biggest surprise came from Ty Jerome. The former Virginia guard, sidelined for most of the regular season with an ankle injury, erupted for 28 points on 10-of-12 shooting—including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. His 16-point fourth quarter turned a tense eight-point game into a rout.

With 7:26 remaining, Miami had cut Cleveland’s lead to 98-90. The Heat looked poised to complete their comeback bid when Jerome ignited a 13-4 Cavaliers run by scoring 10 consecutive points. He buried back-to-back threes, hit a pull-up jumper, and converted a three-point play in the span of just over two minutes.

“Ty’s been grinding all year to get back,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He’s one of the smartest guys on the floor at all times, and tonight he was fearless. Those shots he hit in the fourth were momentum killers for Miami.”

Jerome’s impact extended beyond scoring. He added four assists and two steals while finishing with a game-high +23 in plus-minus rating.

Garland’s Sharpshooting Complements Backcourt Dominance

Third-year guard Darius Garland provided a steady offensive engine alongside Mitchell and Jerome. Garland poured in 27 points and matched Jerome with five made three-pointers. His aggressive playmaking helped Cleveland spread the floor and keep Miami’s defense in constant rotation.

Garland’s presence was most felt in the second quarter when Cleveland built a 16-point lead, capitalizing on Miami’s turnover-prone stretch. The Cavaliers shot 18-of-43 from beyond the arc overall (41.9%), outgunning the Heat’s 9-of-29 performance from long range.

Heat’s Comeback Falls Short Despite Adebayo and Herro

The Miami Heat entered Sunday’s game riding the emotional high of Play-In victories over the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, but Cleveland’s physicality and depth eventually wore them down.

Bam Adebayo was Miami’s most consistent offensive presence, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting while also grabbing nine rebounds. Tyler Herro chipped in 21 points and five assists, but struggled with his shot in the second half, going 2-of-8 after the break.

Jimmy Butler, Miami’s playoff talisman, was notably absent from the game due to a knee injury sustained during the Play-In round. His absence loomed large as Miami lacked a go-to scorer late in the fourth.

“We fought, and we made a run, but we needed more at the end,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Without Jimmy, it’s tough. But that’s the nature of the playoffs. We’ll regroup and come back stronger for Game 2.”

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Injury Updates: Heat Missing Butler, Cavaliers Healthy

Miami’s injury report dominated the pregame storyline. Jimmy Butler (knee) was ruled out and is considered day-to-day. Starting point guard Terry Rozier also missed the game due to neck spasms. Kyle Lowry started in Rozier’s place but struggled to contain Garland defensively and finished with just five points.

Miami’s depth took further hits during the game as backup forward Caleb Martin exited in the third quarter with a sprained ankle and did not return. His status for Game 2 remains uncertain.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, entered the game at full strength for the first time in weeks. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley controlled the paint, combining for 22 rebounds and five blocks. Caris LeVert added a steady 12 points off the bench.

Key Moments That Defined Game 1

• Second-Quarter Surge: With Miami hanging tough early, Cleveland used a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter—highlighted by back-to-back threes from Garland and Mitchell—to build a 55-39 lead.
• Heat’s Third-Quarter Response: Adebayo and Herro powered a 17-6 run to close the third quarter, narrowing Cleveland’s lead to just 91-84 heading into the fourth.
• Jerome’s Takeover: The turning point came with 6:50 left when Jerome knocked down a three to push the lead to 103-90. He scored 10 of Cleveland’s next 13 points, effectively putting the game out of reach.
• Defensive Stand: Mobley and Allen combined to hold the Heat to just one field goal over a four-minute stretch in the final quarter. Their rim protection was key to neutralizing Miami’s interior attack.

Statistical Comparison

What’s Next: Game 2 on Wednesday

Game 2 of the series will tip off Wednesday night in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before heading to Miami for Games 3 and 4. The Heat’s medical updates will be closely monitored as they await word on Butler, Rozier, and Martin’s availability.

The Cavaliers will aim to replicate their Game 1 shooting performance and hope to maintain defensive intensity.

“We defended, we moved the ball, and we didn’t get rattled when they made their run,” said Garland. “But this is just one game. We know they’ll come back hungry.”

Playoff History and Context

Sunday’s win marks Cleveland’s first Game 1 victory since the 2018 postseason. For a franchise that’s endured multiple early-round exits since LeBron James’ departure, this game could be a turning point in their playoff narrative.

The Heat, meanwhile, are no strangers to playoff adversity. As a lower seed in 2023, they reached the NBA Finals by toppling the top-seeded Bucks and Celtics. With Spoelstra at the helm, they’ll look to make the necessary adjustments.

Game 1 offered a mix of expected and unexpected: Donovan Mitchell delivered as the superstar, but it was Ty Jerome’s surprise explosion that punctuated Cleveland’s dominance. The Heat showed grit but couldn’t overcome the absence of their All-Star leader.

As the series progresses, both teams face pivotal questions: Can Miami get healthy in time to respond? Can Cleveland sustain this level of offensive efficiency? Game 2 promises to offer more answers—and perhaps more surprises.

Stay tuned.

Game 2:
Wednesday, April 23
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
National broadcast on TNT