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Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers prediction: Who will win Game 1 of NBA playoff series
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- Miami Heat vs. Cleveland Cavaliers prediction: Who will win Game 1 of NBA playoff series
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers are set to begin what they hope is a long playoff journey in coach Kenny Atkinson's first year on the bench. The Cavs play the Miami Heat in an NBA playoffs best-of-seven first-round series.
The Heat were overtime winners over the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Play-In Tournament to secure the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed. The top-seeded Cavs won the regular-season series 2-1 against the Heat, and it was even Miami who the Cavs beat to clinch their playoff spot .
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Game 1 is 7 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at Rocket Arena.
Here's how Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich think the game will unfold :
Heat vs. Cavs prediction: Who wins Game 1 tonight?
Lewis:I think the Cavs roll at home to open their playoff journey. I'll take Cleveland to to get off to a hot start at home and win Game 1. Cavaliers 115, Heat 105
Ulrich:Even though the Cavs didn't learn the Heat would be their first-round opponent until the conclusion of the East's Play-In Tournament the night of April 18, the Cavaliers shouldn't be bothered too much because they are the superior team. They're also the more rested team, especially after the Heat needed OT to beat the Hawks 123-114 with the No. 8 seed at stake. Cavaliers 112, Heat 102
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs vs Miami Heat prediction, Game 1 of NBA playoff series
