Terry Rozier scored seven of his 24 points down the stretch, including on a step-back 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation, which proved to be the game-winner for the visiting Miami Heat in their 107-104 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Miami, which came in having last beaten a team with a record above .500 on Feb. 26, led most of the way against a Cleveland team that entered the night third in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat could not gain much separation, however, only pushing their advantage to 11 points at its peak. Playing without Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley or Max Strus, the Cavaliers rallied to take a fourth-quarter lead behind Georges Niang’s 10 points in the period.
Niang was one of five Cleveland scorers in double figures, finishing with 18 points. Jarrett Allen recorded his 34th double-double of the season and first 20-plus-point, 20-plus-rebound double-double since Dec. 27 with a team-high 25 points and 20 boards.
Niang’s final two points came on a pair of free throws with 1:34 remaining, giving the Cavaliers a four-point lead, but Rozier immediately negated the edge when Isaac Okoro fouled Rozier on a made 3-point attempt.
Rozier converted the four-point play to tie it at 100-100, then the Miami defense forced a shot-clock violation on the ensuing Cleveland possession to set up the game-winning basket.
Rozier shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Jimmy Butler, who scored a game-high 30 points, went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 11-of-19 from the floor overall.
Butler almost made four steals. Patty Mills, who scored 10 points, added another two steals. Nikola Jovic shot 4-of-10 from 3-point distance on his way to 14 points for Miami.
Caris LeVert recorded his third double-double in the last five games with 16 points and 12 assists in the loss. Darius Garland shot 5-of-12 from 3-point range en route to 20 points, while Sam Merrill went 4-of-9 beyond the arc for all 12 of his points off the bench.
–Field Level Media