After a small slip-up early on in the game, the Miami Heat dominated the rest of the proceedings, en route to a big 124-107 win over the Cavaliers.
Spotlight
The night belonged to two former G-League prospects who were turned into NBA stars, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson. Nunn scored 22 points while Robinson scored 20. Saturday night’s game marked a major milestone for Robinson, as he became the fastest player to make 500 three-pointers. He did it in just 152 games, destroying the previous record and making it his own.
The rest of Miami’s starring cast also had a great night including Trevor Ariza (18 points), Bam Adebayo (13 points and 10 rebounds) and Jimmy Butler (15 points). This came along with Max Strus, a former DePaul star, having his breakout game with 17 points.
On the losing end of the spectrum, Cleveland had two 25-point performances by two of their best: Collin Sexton and Kevin Love. This came with the latter making 7-of-10 three-pointers in an impressive night. Former Nets and now current Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen also had a good night for the Cavs, scoring six points and 14 rebounds. Cedi Osman (15 points and 11 assists) and Issac Okoro (11 points) also contributed to the attempted comeback that ultimately fell short.
Key Takeaway
This was another game where the Heat had the potential to have numerous slip-ups and lose another game to a team out of the playoff picture. However, they were able to rally, fight back and take the lead. That lead was one they never relinquished behind an all-around great night for the team. Defense wins games and on Saturday, their defense shut down the Cavs. To maintain their current standing as a six seed, Miami will need to continue that trend.
What’s Next?
The Heat will travel up to Charlotte for a matchup with the Hornets. The Hornets have won both meetings this season and will have LaMelo Ball back in the lineup.