Cleveland Cavaliers Secure Playoff Spot with Win Over Shorthanded Miami Heat
The Cleveland Cavaliers, with the best record in the NBA, secured the first playoff spot of the season with a 112-107 victory over the short-handed Miami Heat at home on Wednesday night.
Donovan Mitchell led the charge for the Cavaliers with a team-high 26 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, helping the Cavs extend their winning streak to 12 games and improve their record to 52-10.
Despite the impressive feat, Mitchell emphasized that the team’s goals go beyond simply making the playoffs.
“It’s an honor, and it shows our hard work as a group. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t really mean much,” Mitchell said after the game. “It’s great to be in the playoffs, but when I came here and re-signed, playoffs weren’t the goal. This is just another step in our journey. We have a lot more to accomplish.”
Evan Mobley also contributed significantly, posting 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Darius Garland added 15 points and 10 assists in the win.
Wednesday's victory marked the third time this season that the Cavaliers have won 12 consecutive games, making them only the second team in NBA history to achieve this feat, joining the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks.
The Heat briefly held a 107-106 lead with less than three minutes remaining, but the Cavaliers closed out the game with a 6-0 run. Miami had a chance to tie the game when Duncan Robinson appeared to make a three-pointer with 17.4 seconds left, but he was called for stepping out of bounds.
Heat center Bam Adebayo had a stellar performance, finishing with 34 points, a season-high, 12 rebounds, and five assists in the losing effort.
Miami played without several key players, including All-Star Tyler Herro (head cold), Andrew Wiggins (ankle sprain), Jaime Jacquez Jr. (ankle sprain), Nikola Jovic (broken hand), and Kal’el Ware (knee sprain). The Heat’s record fell to 29-32 with the loss.
Next, the Cavaliers will face the Charlotte Hornets on the road, while the Heat will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
