The playoffs are all about setting the tone — and in Game 1, the Cleveland Cavaliers made sure their message was loud and clear. With a blistering second half and a lights-out performance from their stars, Cleveland ran away with a 121-100 win over the Miami Heat, taking a strong 1–0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series.
🔥 Mitchell Does It Again
Donovan Mitchell showed once again why he’s one of the league’s coldest playoff performers. He dropped 30 points, making it his seventh straight playoff opener with 30 or more — putting him in the kind of historic company that gets fans buzzing.
But he wasn’t alone.
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🌟 Ty Jerome Steps Up Big-Time
Making his playoff debut, Ty Jerome put on a show — especially in the fourth quarter, where he poured in 16 of his 28 total points. He was clutch, fearless, and a total game-changer off the bench.
Add Darius Garland’s 27 points and a classic Jarrett Allen double-double, and Cleveland looked every bit like a team ready to make a deep postseason run.
🌊 Heat Hang Tough — Until the Fourth
The Miami Heat didn’t come in quietly. Bam Adebayo led with 24 points and 9 rebounds, while Tyler Herro added 21 points. Davion Mitchell also had a solid outing, dishing out 9 assists to go with 18 points of his own.
But when it mattered most, in the fourth quarter, the Heat got outscored 34–21 — and that’s where things unraveled. Cleveland’s energy, ball movement, and bench firepower proved too much to handle down the stretch.
🗓️ Game 2 on the Horizon
The series shifts into high gear on Wednesday, April 23, as Game 2 tips off at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The Heat will be looking to bounce back, while the Cavaliers will try to keep their foot on the gas and protect home court.
