Kenny Atkinson didn’t dress it up after Cleveland’s 133-121 loss to Miami. The Cavaliers coach said the Heat’s frontcourt duo took control where it mattered most.
“Giannis and Bam had their way with us...they kind of dominated us in the paint -- those two guys,” Atkinson said after Friday’s NBA Cup game.
That was the story of the night. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo each poured in 37 points, and Miami finished with a 54-40 edge in points in the paint. Adebayo did his damage on 13-of-19 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Antetokounmpo got to 37 by hitting 15 of his 20 shots.
The Heat’s offensive punch didn’t stop there. Miami got 22 points and a career-high-tying 17 assists from Davion Mitchell, plus 20 points off the bench from Ryan Conwell. The win stretched Miami’s streak to three games.
Cleveland actually carried a 57-54 lead into halftime, but the game flipped after that. Miami outscored the Cavaliers 79-64 over the third and fourth quarters to take control.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 25 points, while Tyrese Proctor added 22. James Harden scored 20, Jaylon Tyson finished with 16 and Meleek Thomas had 12 in the loss.
The Cavaliers were also missing Evan Mobley, who sat out for the first time this season with a sprained left great toe. Atkinson said the injury doesn’t appear to be a major concern.
“The MRI came back clean,” Atkinson said. “Sprained, definitely sore, but we don’t expect it to be a long-term thing at all.”
Miami’s win carried added weight in the NBA Cup standings. The Heat improved to 2-0 in group play and moved alone atop East Group B, while also getting back to .500 for the first time this season at 6-6.
For Cleveland, the loss dropped the team to 6-7 overall and 1-1 in group play after its win over the New York Knicks. The path forward is clear but steep: the Cavaliers will likely need to beat the Indiana Pacers at home and then win at New York to have a shot at advancing. Every team that has reached the knockout rounds has gone at least 3-1 in group play.
The Heat became the second team in franchise history to have two players score 37 points in the same game. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did it first in 2013.
Miami now turns to a home game against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday. Cleveland, meanwhile, is back in action Saturday at home against the Dallas Mavericks, one night after the defeat in Miami.
In Other News...
Donovan Mitchell Just Sent A Strong Message About Clevelands Future
Donovan Mitchells latest move says plenty about where he sees the Cavaliers headed. Fresh off Clevelands first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in his time with the franchise, Mitchell committed long term with a four-year extension that keeps him in place through 2031 and gives the team a clear centerpiece as it tries to build on this run. Even after the sweep at the hands of the New York Knicks, the message from Mitchell is hard to miss: he believes this group still has room to grow.
For Cleveland, that matters as much as any box score. Mitchell has continued to anchor the offense this season, averaging 22.8 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game while carrying the expectations that come with being the face of a contender. The extension locks in stability at the top of the roster, and it also raises the stakes for what comes next, because the Cavaliers are no longer just trying to prove they belong in the East's upper tier. They are trying to turn that into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylon Tyson Still Has A Chance To Change Clevelands Bench Rotation
Jaylon Tysons first month has been a reminder that even a promising young wing can find his path to steady minutes blocked by health and by the numbers game. He has appeared in six of Clevelands 12 games, logging 21.1 minutes and seven points per night, but his shooting has not matched last seasons efficiency as he works through a neck issue and an ankle problem that have interrupted both his rhythm and his availability.
For a Cavaliers team trying to sort out its bench on the fly, Tysons situation is still one worth watching because the door is not closed on him reclaiming a useful role. Cleveland has been patient with his recovery and development, but the competition for wing minutes is real, and Tyson will have to show he can stay on the floor and rediscover the consistency that made him part of the conversation in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Suddenly Have A Sam Merrill Decision Fans Didn't Expect
Sam Merrill has quietly become one of the more useful two-way pieces on Clevelands roster, which is why his current situation feels a little more complicated than anyone expected. The wing has carved out a role with his shooting and steadiness, but an elbow injury has knocked his rhythm off enough that the Cavaliers are now watching closely as he works through it.
The bigger issue is that Cleveland has depth on the wing, so the front office has to weigh whether Merrills long-term value to the rotation is enough to keep him in place or whether he becomes part of a trade conversation. Other teams have already shown interest, and the Nuggets are among the clubs linked to him, which only adds to the intrigue as the Cavs wait to see whether his play rebounds once he gets healthier. [Read more 🡒]