When the teams meet again on Friday for the second time in three nights, the burgeoning Cleveland Cavaliers will be aiming for a two-game sweep of the host Miami Heat.
In a 104-100 victory in South Florida on Wednesday, the Cavaliers held off a late Miami rally and had five starters score in double figures.
Cleveland took a 12-point lead early in the third quarter after 18 lead changes in the first half before Miami came back in the fourth. With 2:44 remaining, Miami came within one, but it was never able to catch the visitors.
The Cavaliers, who have won 11 of their last 15 games since the beginning of February, were led by Darius Garland, who scored 25 points and Donovan Mitchell added 18.
Miami must improve their ball management if they are to win the two-game series. Cleveland scored 29 points thanks to a season-high 24 turnovers committed by the Heat.
Jimmy Head servant drove Miami with 28 focuses while Tyler Herro added 22 and enormous man Bam Adebayo contributed with 17.
Jarrett Allen of Cleveland had a double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. He shot 7 of 10 from the field. On Wednesday, Allen also dominated the boards, limiting Adebayo to just one rebound.
To stay within striking distance of the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 1 seed, the Cavaliers have won three straight and four of their last five games. Eastern Conference’s number three seed.
15 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two blocks were scored by Evan Mobley.
Isaac Okoro had his best offensive night in over a month, scoring 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including 3 of 4 attempts from three-point range.
The second of four consecutive road games for Cleveland. The second half of its four-game road trip will also consist of two games against one team, with games in Charlotte on Sunday and Tuesday.
The Heat are attempting to prevent No. 8 Atlanta and catch the Brooklyn Nets for the sixth seed in the East, thereby avoiding the play-in tournament round and automatically qualifying them for the playoffs.
Miami is wrapping up a five-game homestand that began with a loss to the New York Knicks and ended with a loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. Before that, they had won two games against Atlanta and Cleveland.
