Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier celebrates after making a three-pointer and being fouled against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
CLEVELAND — Terry Rozier scored nine points in the final 1:24, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds on the clock, lifting the Miami Heat to a 107-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA play Wednesday night.
Rozier converted a 4-point play before sinking a 26-footer that gave Miami a 105-102 lead. After Georges Niang made a layup for the Cavaliers, Rozier followed up with two free throws with 2.8 seconds left.
Darius Garland had a chance to force overtime, but his off-balance 3-point attempt was off-target and Cleveland lost its third straight home game.
READ: NBA: Heat trade Kyle Lowry to Hornets for Terry Rozier
“That’s why we went after Terry,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said in a Jan. 23 exchange with Charlotte. “We wanted to have another guy who could make things happen late in the game. He’s always been that type of player in big moments with Charlotte and of course with Boston. »
Terry Rozier with the CLUTCH 4-point play all the way in Cleveland ???? pic.twitter.com/HsVE9IYF8x
– NBA TV (@NBATV) March 21, 2024
Jimmy Butler scored 30 points and Rozier, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, finished with 24, helping Miami move closer to Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference’s sixth and final automatic playoff spot. Nikola Jovic added 14 points.
“Terry put on a show, man, with half the arena there to see him tonight,” Butler said. “Basketball is supposed to be fun and to get to do it a little bit in your cradle, in front of your people, was something.”
Jarrett Allen had 25 points and 20 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who remain third in the East. Garland scored 20 points, Caris LeVert added 16 points and 12 assists and Niang had 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.
READ: NBA: Bam Adebayo hits buzzer 3 as Heat leads Pistons
Cleveland was without three starters, All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (broken nose), power forward Evan Mobley (sprained left ankle) and small forward Max Strus (sprained right knee). Mitchell will have his status updated next week.
“All of them are closer, but I can’t give you a projected timetable,” Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff said.
All-Star center Bam Adebayo (lower back bruise) and shooting guard Duncan Robinson (back pain) were unavailable for Miami. Both played Monday in a 98-91 loss at Philadelphia.
“The coach told me it was time to take a game,” Adebayo said. “It was more maintenance than anything else.”
Rozier shot just 27.9 percent from 3-point range in his first 21 games with the Heat, but made 5 of 6 in his return home to Ohio.
“My teammates and coaches kept reminding me who I am,” Rozier said. “They told me to keep shooting. Knowing that my guys believed in me meant a lot.
The Heat took a 54-43 lead in the second quarter – aided by three Cleveland technical fouls in 4 1/2 minutes – before entering the half with a 61-57 lead. Butler had 20 points for Miami, while Allen led the Cavaliers with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
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NEXT NBA SCHEDULE
Heat: Host New Orleans Friday night.
Cavaliers: At Minnesota Friday night.
