Cavaliers Dominate Heat in Game 1 of Playoffs

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers showcased their dominance in the first game of the Eastern Conference playoffs, defeating the Miami Heat 121-100 at Rocket Arena on Sunday night. The win gives the Cavs a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

About an hour before the game, some players discussed the Oklahoma City-Memphis matchup, where Oklahoma City set a dominant tone with a 131-80 victory. Forward Max Strus mentioned, “They set the tone. They sent a message. We need to do the same tonight. Show them why we are the No. 1 seed.” And the Cavaliers did just that.

The Cavs, who finished the regular season with 64 wins, started strong, quickly building a nine-point lead. They trailed for only 35 seconds during the first quarter. “We played super hard and competitive,” said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “But with the Heat, you cannot relax. It’s going to be a battle this series.”

All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 30 points, five rebounds, and four assists, continuing his streak of scoring at least 30 points in seven consecutive Game 1s, tying an NBA record held by Michael Jordan. “Just setting the tone, just trying to be aggressive,” Mitchell said about his performance.

Cavs guard Darius Garland added 27 points, helping set a franchise milestone with three players scoring 27 or more points in a playoff game. “We’re a really good team when everybody’s connecting on all cylinders,” Garland said.

Ty Jerome also made a significant impact, scoring 28 points in his playoff debut, including 16 during a heated fourth quarter. “It felt solid,” said Jerome. “You’ve got to be who you are – within the team obviously.”

Bam Adebayo led Miami with 24 points, and Tyler Herro added 21. Although Miami attempted to mount a comeback, they only got as close as six points in the second half.

With their strong shooting performance, the Cavs finished the night with 51.1% from the field and 41.9% from three-point range, demonstrating why they are the East’s top team.

The Cavaliers will host the Heat again for Game 2 on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. as they look to extend their series lead.