The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday night, never trailing in a 126-106 victory over the Miami Heat. Donovan Mitchell led the charge with 34 points, marking his 14th 30-point game of the season and his fifth in the last seven outings.
Ty Jerome provided a spark off the bench with 20 points, while Evan Mobley dominated the paint with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Cleveland also received strong contributions from Georges Niang (13 points) and Jarrett Allen, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
For Miami, Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier each finished with 22 points, while Bam Adebayo added 21 points. Duncan Robinson chipped in 13 points, but the Heat struggled on the boards, getting outrebounded 47-35.
Cleveland improved to 29-2 when holding opponents to 116 points or fewer, highlighting their defensive prowess. The Cavaliers also extended their perfect record to 33-0 when leading after three quarters, reinforcing their ability to close out games.
Darius Garland was held out for rest, marking just the second game he’s s missed this season. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized player health, stating, “We obviously have all the numbers and the data and all that. I’m just thinking of him first.”
Miami managed just 41 first-half points, tying their season low. The Heat came alive in the third quarter with 43 points, including eight points in the final 40 seconds from Herro, but they couldn’t sustain the momentum.
After Miami cut the deficit to eight points early in the fourth quarter, Cleveland responded with a 7-0 run in just 44 seconds. A Mitchell three-pointer at the 10:15 mark pushed the Cavs lead to 101-86, and from that point, they remained in control.
This was Clevelands sixth wire-to-wire victory of the season and their first on the road. Miami never led in the game, marking the fourth time this season they’ve failed to hold a lead at any point.
Cleveland returns home for a three-game homestand, starting Thursday night against Atlanta. Miami embarks on a four-game road trip, beginning Saturday night in San Antonio.
With Mitchell continuing his dominant stretch and Cleveland locking in defensively, the Cavaliers look poised for a strong push as the season progresses.