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yesterday

Cavaliers and Heat Prepare for Tense Game 3 in Miami

Cleveland leads the series 2-0 as tensions rise between Darius Garland and Tyler Herro ahead of Saturday's matchup.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro in the second half in Game 1 of an NBA first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers guards Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter of game one of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Image
Apr 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson stands on the court in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images/File Photo

Overview

  • The Cleveland Cavaliers hold a 2-0 series lead over the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs, with Game 3 set for Saturday afternoon in Miami.
  • Cavaliers guard Darius Garland and Heat guard Tyler Herro have exchanged heated words, with Garland emphasizing Cleveland's strategy of targeting Herro defensively and Herro firing back about Garland's defensive abilities.
  • Donovan Mitchell has been pivotal for Cleveland, scoring 30 points in both Games 1 and 2, while Tyler Herro has led Miami offensively, averaging 27 points per game in the series.
  • Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has made adjustments, including moving Davion Mitchell to the starting lineup and reintegrating Nikola Jovic, who has acknowledged late-game mistakes in Game 2 that he says cost the Heat a chance to even the series.
  • The Heat aim to leverage home-court advantage to avoid falling into a 3-0 deficit, a scenario historically difficult to overcome in NBA playoff series.