Cavaliers Head to Miami with 2-0 Playoff Series Lead Over Heat

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers are two wins away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals after securing a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat. The teams will meet for Game 3 on Saturday, April 26, at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

After winning both games at Rocket Arena, the Cavaliers are looking to build momentum on the road. Cleveland’s Game 2 victory was a hard-fought 121-112 win, despite the Heat rallying to reduce a 19-point deficit late in the game. Donovan Mitchell led the charge, scoring 10 of his 17 fourth-quarter points during crucial moments.

In Game 2, Cleveland capitalized on a blistering second quarter, breaking records with 11 three-pointers. Although the Cavaliers appeared to have control, a late surge from the Heat brought the score within two points. However, Mitchell’s late-game performance sealed the victory.

“Pick on Tyler Herro,” emphasized Cavaliers’ point guard Darius Garland when discussing the team’s offensive strategy. Cleveland aims to exploit weaknesses in the Heat’s defense, especially targeting Herro.

The upcoming Game 3 is critical for both teams. A victory for the Cavaliers would give them a commanding 3-0 series lead, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2018. Meanwhile, the Heat are under pressure to protect their home court and push the series to a Game 5.

Miami showed resilience in Game 2, with Tyler Herro scoring a game-high 33 points. Center Bam Adebayo narrowly missed a triple-double and coach Erik Spoelstra’s team is looking to come out strong in front of their fans.

Both teams are set to meet again Saturday, with tipoff at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The Cavaliers will need to overcome their recent playoff struggles on the road as they aim for a series sweep.