(Picture credit score: Rhona Clever-Imagn Photographs)
Tyler Herro scored 19 of his 34 factors within the third quarter because the host Miami Warmth handed the Cleveland Cavaliers a uncommon defeat, 122-113, on Sunday evening.
Cleveland (21-4) nonetheless has one of the best document within the NBA, however the Cavaliers had their four-game successful streak snapped.
Cavaliers star Evan Mobley – who scored 41 factors towards Charlotte on Saturday – didn’t return after reportedly struggling a sprained left ankle within the second quarter. He completed with solely 4 factors.
The Warmth received their third straight sport, their greatest end of the season, to go two video games above .500 for the primary time (12-10).
Miami’s Jimmy Butler made the shot of the evening despite the fact that it did not rely. Late within the first half, Butler beat the buzzer on a 55-foot heave after hitting the highest of the backboard, then fired off the clock. The officers knocked the ball out of bounds earlier than it crossed the ring.
Butler completed with 18 factors. Duncan Robinson (23 factors) and Bam Adebayo (16 factors, 13 rebounds) supplied help for Herro, who additionally had a game-high seven assists.
Darius Garland led Cleveland with 23 factors. Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell — who entered the sport among the many league’s high 20 in scoring at 24.2 factors per sport — made simply 12 on 5-of-16 capturing.
Cleveland used a 10-0 run to assist take a 25-21 lead after the primary quarter. The Cavaliers made 3 of 6 within the opening interval, whereas Miami made simply 1 of seven from deep.
Herro scored 11 factors within the second quarter because the Warmth entered halftime with a 59-51 lead. Miami made all 17 of its free throw makes an attempt within the first half, together with six by Herro.
Robinson took two threes round a triple from Herro to provide the Warmth a 68-53 lead two minutes into the second half. Herro drained all 4 of his 3-point tries within the body to assist Miami take a 90-80 lead into the fourth quarter.
Garland’s 3-pointer lower Cleveland’s deficit to 100-95 with 8:28 to play, however Dru Smith answered from distance to make it an eight-point sport. The Cavaliers by no means obtained nearer than six the remainder of the best way.
Cleveland entered the sport main the NBA in scoring (121.8), however had its fewest factors since its most up-to-date loss, a 117-101 setback at Atlanta on Nov. 29.
–Subject degree media
