Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers – Preview & Prediction: Miami Heat will play Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA play-off.
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Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
The Miami Heat failed to make an impact even in the second game of the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now trail 2-0 in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. In the opening matchup, they suffered a 121–112 road loss, missing an opportunity to surprise the favored opponent. Now they’ll get another chance, and many expect them to respond, considering that the Florida team is known for a different mentality when it comes to the playoffs. That reputation follows them, though they haven’t shown it yet.
Miami Heat started the last game well, but the real issue came after a solid first quarter. They allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to score as many as 43 points in the second quarter, and from that point on, a comeback wasn’t realistic. Even when they tried to rally, Donovan Mitchell played brilliantly. Miami Heat still had a chance in the final three minutes to turn things around. Nikola Jovic ended up being the tragic figure—down by four, he handed the ball to the opponent, then got faked out by Mitchell for a three-pointer. And that wasn’t the end—Jovic missed two long-range shots while down by five, and with that, all hope for a comeback faded.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have more or less handled both games in a routine fashion against the Heat, and now rightfully lead 2-0 in the first round of the Eastern Conference. It’s true the second clash was much tougher than the first, and Cleveland Cavaliers could have faltered—as described above—but they also benefited from Jović’s inexperience in critical moments. Combined with Mitchell’s quality, the Cleveland Cavaliers now find themselves in a great position heading into the rest of the series and have every reason to be satisfied.
The Cavaliers were truly tested, and as Mitchell himself said, it might have been for the better, as they’re now in full competitive rhythm. What’s also important for Cleveland Cavaliers star player is that this was his 27th playoff game with at least 30 points, which says a lot about how he elevates his game when it matters most. In this matchup, it wasn’t just Mitchell’s offensive variety that made the difference, but also Jarrett Allen’s defensive plays, including key steals late in the game. Overall, the home team was once again sharp—but they’ll need an even better performance down in Florida.
Claim Now Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers H2H
The Cleveland Cavaliers currently lead the series 2-0 against the Miami Heat.
Injuries and Suspensions
Isaiah Stevens and Dru Smith will not play for the Miami Heat, while Terry Rozier and Kevin Love are questionable. The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to be at full strength.
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Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers Best Betting Tip and Prediction
Despite the fact that the Miami Heat may not have lived up to expectations in the first two games, one shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that the team from Florida lacks the quality to respond to the surging Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s hard to imagine the visitors going up 3-0, as the balance of power simply isn’t that one-sided, which suggests that home court advantage will indeed be a significant factor for the Miami Heat.
Tip-off Time: Saturday, 1:00 p.m. EST, April 26th
Prediction: Miami Heat +7.5
Odds: 1.77
Sportsbook: BetLabel
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
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