The Cleveland Cavaliers used a complete team effort to cruise to a lopsided 124-87 victory over the Miami Heat, seizing a dominant 3-0 series lead in the NBA Eastern Conference First Round on April 27.
Miami Heat Top Performers:
Davion Mitchell 16 PTS | 4 REB | 5 AST | 34.3 FPS
Mitchell has been one of the bright spots for the Heat in this series, scoring at least 16 points with highly efficient shooting while contributing in other areas in all three games. He should have no trouble maintaining this level of production in Game 4.
Bam Adebayo 22 PTS | 9 REB | 1 AST | 28.3 FPS
Bam had to work hard for his points today but remained highly productive, nearly recording his second 20-point double-double of the series after also coming close to a triple-double in Game 2. The only knock against him has been his turnovers and a quieter defensive presence lately. Still, with the way he’s been playing, he’s poised to keep this up and remain the team’s most reliable contributor in the series.
Tyler Herro 13 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 22.3 FPS
Herro had been on a tear offensively, hitting 30 points in Game 2 and four other games this month, but he went cold today. The team was overwhelmed from the start and never recovered, resulting in their biggest loss in franchise’ playoff history. Despite that, Herro faced the media after the game, delivering a bold promise: the team wasn’t about to bow out quietly. “We want to be here,” he said. “And we’re not going down 4-0.”
Andrew Wiggins 10 PTS | 3 AST | 2 BLK | 19.7 FPS
Wiggins has hit double figures in all three games of the series and added solid shot-blocking in the last two. But his overall production has remained short of expectations. They’ll need a more efficient two-way performance from him in Game 4 if they want to avoid elimination.
Kel’el Ware 8 PTS | 5 REB | 2 AST | 16.0 FPS
Ware’s rookie season has been promising, but he hasn’t found his rhythm in this matchup. The team has been struggling to keep up with the Cavs in the interior, as the latter held a +30 advantage in paint scoring and +17 advantage in rebounds today. His team will need more from him if they want to extend this series.
Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers:
Ty Jerome 13 PTS | 11 AST| 2 STL | 39.1 FPS
Jerome’s scoring has declined since his 28-point outburst in Game 1, but he made the most of his opportunity today by dishing out a career-high in assists. That said, it’s unlikely that he’ll maintain this level of production moving forward but he should continue to be a valuable contributor with Garland sidelined.
Max Strus 18 PTS | 9 REB | 5 AST | 36.3 FPS
Strus has maintained a steady role in the series with solid production from deep in three-straight games. He’s also made a real impact as a playmaker over the last two outings and took it up another notch today with his best rebounding performance of the month. While he may not consistently deliver at this level, he should remain a solid scoring threat in Game 4.
Evan Mobley 19 PTS | 6 REB | 3 AST | 34.7 FPS
Mobley’s rebounding and defense in this series have been below his usual standards this season. However, he has balanced it out on offense, putting up at least 19 points in each of the last two games after scoring only 9 in Game 1. While a bigger scoring performance is unlikely, a stronger all-around effort remains well within reach.
Jarrett Allen 22 PTS | 10 REB | 1 AST | 33.3 FPS
Jarrett exploded for 10 points in the opening quarter alone, giving his team an early edge. He’s been a consistent force in this series, threatening double-doubles in three-straight games, and Game 4 should be no different.
De’Andre Hunter 21 PTS | 4 REB | 3 AST | 31.3 FPS
Hunter had limited impact in the first two games of the series but capitalized in his increased minutes and usage today. He finished with his second 20-point game this month and the fifth in his playoff career. If Garland remains sidelined, Hunter should continue to be a key scoring option for the team.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Donovan Mitchell 13 PTS | 2 REB | 1 AST
Mitchell delivered two impressive 30-point performances in the first two games of the series, but he struggled today and had a quieter impact across other areas as well. This inconsistency has been part of his game this season, but he typically bounces back with a strong performance. If Garland remains sidelined, Mitchell should continue to see a much bigger role in the offense moving forward.
