NBA
Late Mitchell surge extinguishes Heat: “it helps when superstar takes over”
Mitchell scores 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter as Cleveland inches closer to the next round.
In theory, a 2-0 series lead for the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers over the tenth-seeded Miami Heat shouldn’t come as a shock. But in practice, it’s a rare sight.
Not since the 2021 playoffs against Milwaukee have the Heat dropped the first two games of a postseason series. After all, Miami remains one of the Eastern Conference’s most consistent playoff forces over the past five years, regardless of the pieces they’ve lost along the way.
So, Cleveland’s 121-112 win in Game 2 – which came after a fierce fightback from Erik Spoelstra’s men – deserves its due. The Cavaliers had to grind this one out, showing resolve that suggests they’re ready to make a deep postseason run.
Cleveland’s historic three-point barrage nearly undone
For much of the night, the Cavaliers looked in cruise control. They built a 19-point lead in the third quarter, extending the cushion they had already piled up before halftime, thanks to a blistering display from beyond the arc.Eleven of their threes came in the second quarter alone – a new playoff record. By the final buzzer, only two Cavaliers players shot below 50% from three-point range.
And yet, even in the face of such firepower, the Heat refused to fold.Led by Tyler Herro’s 33-point effort (with 6 rebounds and 5 assists), Miami clawed its way back into the contest. A 25-8 run, spanning the late third and early fourth quarters, cut Cleveland’s lead to just 105-103 with 3:11 remaining.
That’s when Donovan Mitchell took over.
The Cavaliers’ star guard had been relatively quiet through the first three quarters, but when the game demanded it, he responded emphatically. Mitchell scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, including eight straight right after Miami’s late surge. A smooth mid-range jumper, a transition three following a Jarrett Allen steal – Mitchell provided exactly the kind of performance Cleveland will need if they are to advance deep into these playoffs.
Cavs eye knockout blow in Miami
With the series shifting to Florida, Cleveland has the chance to deliver the decisive blow, knowing full well that Miami, even down 2-0, won’t go quietly. Spoelstra’s Heat have built their reputation on defying odds, but this time, they’ll need to summon something special to turn the tide.
For the Cavaliers, this series has shown both their offensive ceiling and their need for late-game poise – and with Mitchell stepping up when it mattered most, they’ll head to Miami with momentum and belief firmly on their side.
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31
Jarrett Allen
|
|
10
Darius Garland
|
|
8
Javonte Green
|
|
12
De'Andre Hunter
|
|
2
Ty Jerome
|
|
5
Sam Merrill
|
|
45
Donovan Mitchell
|
|
4
Evan Mobley
|
|
18
Chuma Okeke
|
|
35
Isaac Okoro
|
|
9
Craig Porter Jr.
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|
1
Max Strus
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|
13
Tristan Thompson
|
|
24
Jaylon Tyson
|
|
32
Dean Wade
|
| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
31
Jarrett Allen
|
30 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3/3 | 3/5 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
10
Darius Garland
|
31 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7/8 | 4/6 | 2/8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
8
Javonte Green
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
12
De'Andre Hunter
|
23 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 2/6 | 2/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
2
Ty Jerome
|
23 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1/1 | 1/4 | 1/4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
5
Sam Merrill
|
19 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 2/4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
45
Donovan Mitchell
|
35 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3/4 | 3/11 | 7/10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
4
Evan Mobley
|
34 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3/3 | 4/4 | 3/6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
18
Chuma Okeke
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
35
Isaac Okoro
|
9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 1/1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
9
Craig Porter Jr.
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
1
Max Strus
|
26 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2/2 | 0/0 | 4/8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
13
Tristan Thompson
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
24
Jaylon Tyson
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
32
Dean Wade
|
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
13
Bam Adebayo
|
|
20
Kyle Anderson
|
|
18
Alec Burks
|
|
14
Tyler Herro
|
|
24
Haywood Highsmith
|
|
11
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
|
|
16
Keshad Johnson
|
|
5
Nikola Jović
|
|
9
Pelle Larsson
|
|
45
Davion Mitchell
|
|
55
Duncan Robinson
|
|
7
Kel'el Ware
|
|
22
Andrew Wiggins
|
| Min | Pts | TR | OR | DR | Ast | Los | Rec | Blk | S1 | S2 | S3 | RF | CF | Val | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13
Bam Adebayo
|
42 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4/4 | 2/4 | 1/5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
20
Kyle Anderson
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
18
Alec Burks
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
14
Tyler Herro
|
39 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1/2 | 10/13 | 4/11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
24
Haywood Highsmith
|
26 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 5/6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
11
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
16
Keshad Johnson
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
5
Nikola Jović
|
24 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2/2 | 3/4 | 1/8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
|
9
Pelle Larsson
|
10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 1/1 | 0/1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
|
45
Davion Mitchell
|
36 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2/4 | 5/5 | 2/4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
|
55
Duncan Robinson
|
11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1/3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
|
7
Kel'el Ware
|
19 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0/0 | 2/2 | 1/3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
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22
Andrew Wiggins
|
28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3/4 | 2/6 | 1/4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |