The Cleveland Cavaliers (1-0) held the upper hand for most of the contest and slammed the door shut with a decisive fourth quarter run, topping the Miami Heat (0-1) with a score of 121-100 in Game 1 of the first round of the Playoffs on April 21.
Miami Heat Top Performers:
Bam Adebayo 24 PTS | 9 REB | 2 STL | 47.3 FPS
Bam had to earn his production against tough defensive matchups, but still powered through with his sixth 20-point game in his last nine. He also filled up the stat sheet in the secondary categories, especially on the defensive end. With the team short on reliable contributors in frontcourt, he’ll be expected to carry the load—but that also means he could be prone to some quieter outings.
Davion Mitchell 18 PTS | 4 REB | 9 AST | 36.3 FPS
Mitchell emerged as a vital contributor late in the season and continued that form today, giving the team a much-needed offensive spark while providing quality play at the point guard spot. He’s steadily developing offensively but his role remains mostly on defense.
Tyler Herro 21 PTS | 3 REB | 2 AST | 27.6 FPS
Herro had a rough time overall with limited production in other areas while dealing with fouls and turnovers. But it’s not all bad with his three-point shooting staying sharp. With the Cavs’ tough frontcourt defense, his outside shooting will be a major factor if they hope to make the series competitive. The Heat will also need him to replicate his level of performance in the play-in where he delivered two 30+ point games and averaged four made threes.
Andrew Wiggins 14 PTS | 6 REB | 1 STL| 23.2 FPS
Wiggins started the game strong with 8 quick points while also impacting the game in other areas, but took a step back rest of the game. He has the most favorable matchups in this series, so a more impactful performance will be crucial if they hope to extend or win the series.
Haywood Highsmith 7 PTS | 6 REB | 1 BLK| 19.2 FPS
Highsmith logged significant minutes, and while his defense was crucial for the team, it didn’t contribute much to fantasy production.
Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers:
Donovan Mitchell 30 PTS | 5 REB | 4 STL| 52.0 FPS
Mitchell missed the final four games of the regular season with an ankle issue but showed no signs of rust in his return, delivering an elite two-way performance. While he struggled from three, he was nearly unstoppable inside the arc, notching his 20th 30-point game of the season. It also marked his seventh consecutive Game 1 performance, tying Michael Jordan, who accomplished the feat twice.
Darius Garland 27 PTS | 3 REB | 5 AST | 39.1 FPS
DG led the team’s perimeter attack with five made threes while marking his third consecutive game with at least 26 points on 58% shooting. With the Heat lacking the personnel to keep up with the Cavs’ backcourt, Garland is poised to continue posting big scoring numbers.
Ty Jerome 28 PTS | 5 REB | 3 AST | 38.5 FPS
Jerome came up huge today, erupting for 16 points in the fourth alone and helping his team pull away late. He’s been on a strong scoring run lately, averaging 4 three-pointers made in four of his last five games while shooting 60% or better in six of his last seven games.
Jarrett Allen 12 PTS | 11 REB | 3 STL | 36.7 FPS
Jarrett may not have standout numbers but his reliability makes him valuable. He’s held it down all season with multiple months averaging double-digit rebounds and close to 2 stocks all while staying efficient near the rim.
Sam Merrill 6 PTS | 4 AST | 2 BLK | 19.2 FPS
Merrill has been providing key contributions lately, excelling from deep and providing good value in secondary stats in four of his last five games.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Evan Mobley 7 PTS | 9 REB | 1 AST
Mobley had a rare down game, struggling offensively and lacking his usual defensive presence, but his consistent all-around performances to start the month suggest he’ll respond in Game 2.
