A 21-2 run that began in the second quarter and extended into the third helped the Cleveland Cavaliers build a double-digit-point lead, and they went on to beat the host Miami Heat 111-99 on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell, who led the way with game highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds, got off to a slow start, shooting 1-for-5 shooting in the first quarter. Miami capitalized and built a lead of as many as 16 points early in the second quarter, but Cleveland came alive with a 15-0 run to shave the deficit to one.
The Cavaliers followed that with their big push going into and coming out of the locker room. Mitchell shot 3-for-4 from the floor in the second quarter to contribute to the turnaround, then went 4-for-4 (including 3-for-3 from 3-point range) in the third quarter.
Cleveland increased the lead to as much as 18 points thanks to its effective transition offense. The Cavaliers outscored the Heat 23-11 in fastbreak points and converted 18 Miami turnovers into 22 points.
Darius Garland, who scored 18 points, fueled Cleveland’s defensive effort with four steals. Garland also matched Mitchell’s game-high total with six assists.
Georges Niang came off the Cleveland bench to add 13 points and shoot 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Former Heat player Max Strus struggled from long range in his return to Miami, going 2-for-11, but he finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Kyle Lowry and reserve Josh Richardson led the Heat with 17 points each. Kevin Love recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, and reserve Jaime Jaquez Jr. chipped in 14 points. Jimmy Butler scored 16 points, and Caleb Martin notched 15 points.
Miami was without Bam Adebayo (hip) for a third consecutive game. Orlando Robinson, starting at center in his place, finished with five points and eight rebounds.
Duncan Robinson shot 0-for-7 from the floor, including 0-for-6 from 3-point range, and finished with one point. Miami went 15-for-42 (35.7 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc, led by Richardson’s 5-for-7 effort.
Cleveland went 14-of-38 (36.8 percent) from deep, and 40-for-87 (46 percent) from the floor overall to Miami’s 37-of-86 shooting (43 percent).
The Cavaliers won for the fifth time in six games, while the Heat took their fifth loss in seven games.
–Field Level Media