Cleveland Cavs score, NBA playoffs recap | Cavaliers survive Heat rally, lead series 2-0

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Cleveland Cavs score, NBA playoffs recap | Cavaliers survive Heat rally, lead series 2-0

Nate Ulrich and Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Wed, Apr 23, 2025 ·

12 min read

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CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers secured a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA playoff series against the Miami Heat .

After beginning the first-round matchup with a 21-point victory , the top-seeded Cavs held on despite the Heat rallying in the fourth quarter and captured a 121-112 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday, April 23. The series will shift to the home of the No. 8 seed Heat for Game 3 on Saturday, April 26.

Cleveland Cavs playoffs: Cavaliers are desperate for Evan Mobley to be great. He took a step in Game 2 win vs. Heat

Here is how Cavs versus Heat unfolded through our updates:

Cavs defeat Heat 121-112 in Game 2 after Cleveland survives Miami's rally in fourth quarter with Donovan Mitchell delivering in crunch time

After the Heat cut the Cavs' lead to 101-99 with 4:25 left, Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell scored 10 of Cleveland's next 12 points.

A foul called on Cavs center Jarrett Allen against Heat guard Tyler Herro with 39.4 seconds was overturned upon replay review because Herro made what the officials called an "unnatural move" to draw the foul. The Heat then won a jump ball, but forward Nikola Jovic missed a 3-pointer.

Cavs forward Evan Mobley secured the rebound and was fouled. With 25.7 seconds left, Mobley made two free throws to give the Cavs a 115-108 cushion.

Then a steal by small forward Max Strus and a putback and four successful free throws by point guard Darius Garland sealed the Cavs' win.

Cavs in 2025 NBA playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat Game 2 instant reaction

Mitchell led the Cavs with 30 points, the same total he posted in Game 1. Garland had 21 points and Mobley 20.

Mitchell scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Heat guards Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell scored 33 and 18 points, respectively. Davion Mitchell had 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Heat cut deficit vs. Cavs to two points with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter

The Heat trailed by as many as 19 points, including 13 points entering the fourth quarter. But Miami refused to fold, and Cleveland is being threatened in crunch time.

Heat guard Tyler Herro made a fast-break layup with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter in the midst of a Miami rally, cutting the Cavs' lead to 101-99. The tension in the arena is palpable. The Cavs have been outscored 19-8 in the fourth quarter thus far.

Miami rallies in the fourth quarter. Cavs lead Heat 100-94 with 6:42 left

The Heat ended the third quarter on an 8-2 run and started the fourth quarter by outscoring the Cavs 14-7.

All of it combined for the Cavs to lead 100-94 during a Cleveland timeout with 6:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Heat guard Davion Mitchell has fueled Miami in the fourth quarter with nine points thus far. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra inserted Mitchell into the Miami starting lineup for Game 2, and now he's in the midst of finishing strong.

The Cavs will need an answer to hold on.

Cavs, Heat score: Cleveland leads Miami by double digits heading to fourth quarter

The Cavs will take a 93-80 lead into the fourth quarter.

Donovan Mitchell hasn't had his normal scoring production, but he's threatening a triple-double with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Evan Mobley has picked up some of that slack with a team-high 18 points. De'Andre Hunter has 12 points off the bench. Darius Garland has 14 points, though he's hit only two of his eight 3-point attempts.

Overall, the Cavs have hit 18 3-pointers in Game 2.

Darius Garland makes incredible play to save the ball; Cavs lead Heat in third quarter

With the Cavs leading 91-72, Darius Garland lost the ball but dove toward the sideline to save it. He tapped the ball with one hand as he slide out of bounds, and while the original call was that he was out, the Cavs saw the replay on the jumbotron and quickly called a timeout to challenge it.

The play was overturned, and Garland's slide — which would have worked on a close play at home plate — saved another possession.

Aside from Garland's slide, the Cavs have had too much firepower for the Heat. Garland has been a part of that with a deep 3-pointer he just made, along with 18 points for Evan Mobley.

Max Strus injury: Cavs guard/forward limps off floor but remains in the game

The Cavs have built an 81-65 lead thanks to a barrage of 3s, but their main concern at the moment is guard/forward Max Strus, who appears to be in some discomfort.

Strus became entangled while going for a loose ball and had a heavy limp after the play, perhaps due to his left leg. The Cavs quickly called timeout.

Following the timeout, Strus remained in the game.

Cavaliers lead 68-51 Heat at halftime. Cavaliers set an NBA playoff 3-pointer record

The Cavs led the Heat 68-51 at halftime.

In the first half, the Cavs went 24-of-41 shooting from the field (58.5%), including 14 of 23 on 3-pointers (60.9%).

With 11 successful 3-pointers in the second quarter, the Cavs set an NBA playoff record for 3s made in a quarter. With 14 successful 3s in the first half, the Cavs made their second-most 3s in any half in their playoff history.

The Heat went 19-of-40 shooting from the floor (47.5%), including 9 of 23 on 3s (39.1%).

Small forward Max Strus led the Cavs with 12 points in the first half, followed by guard Donovan Mitchell and forward Evan Mobley with 10 apiece.

Heat guard Tyler Herro had a game-high 17 points at halftime.

The Cavs outrebounded the Heat 19-14, with Mitchell and Mobley posting five and four, respectively.

Although the Cavs led the Heat just 3-2 in second-chance points through two quarters, Cleveland outscored Miami 23-18 in bench points and 12-7 in points off turnovers. The Heat had eight turnovers in the first half. The Cavs had five.

Apr 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cleveland Cavs lead Miami Heat 59-44 with 4:10 left in the second quarter, which has featured Max Strus draining 3-pointers

The Cavs led 59-44 when they used a timeout with 4:10 left in the second quarter.

At this juncture, small forward Max Strus led the Cavs with nine second-quarter points on 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range. Strus is a former Heat player, so he probably doesn't mind catching fire against some familiar faces on a grand stage.

Apr 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) looks to pass beside Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Donovan Mitchell and Max Strus put on a fast-break clinic, and Cleveland Cavaliers lead Miami Heat 50-34 with 6:04 left in the second quarter

Want to know how the Cavs want to play by watching one sequence?

Guard Donovan Mitchell gathered a long defensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer by Heat forward Duncan Robinson and fired a baseball-like pass to small forward Max Strus as he ran the floor. Strus pulled up for an open 3-pointer on the wing and drained the open shot to give the Cavs a 50-34 advantage, their largest lead thus far.

The Cavs outscored the Heat 25-10 through the first half of the second quarter.

Apr 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) reaches for the ball beside Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cavs outscore Heat 14-6 to begin the second quarter and capture 39-30 lead with 9:29 left in the second quarter

Well, Cavs wing De'Andre Hunter refused to be shut out again. After going scoreless in Game 1, Hunter found a rhythm early in the second quarter by making two free throws and two 3-pointers for eight quick points. Hunter's hot streak helped the Cavs outscore the Heat 14-6 to start the second quarter.

The Cas led 39-30 with 9:29 left in the second quarter when the Heat called timeout. Cavs guard Sam Merrill made a 3-pointer off a steal after Heat forward Bam Adebayo botched a handoff attempt at the top of the key. Merrill's shot sent Miami into a timeout.

Apr 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) shoots in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

NBA playoffs: Cavs lead Heat after first quarter of Game 2

The Cavs ended the quarter on a better note than they started, and they'll take a 25-24 lead into the second quarter.

Of note, Evan Mobley has been much more of a factor so far with a game-high seven points, two rebounds and a steal. Ty Jerome is also nearing folk hero status in Cleveland has has five points.

The Heat at one point led by nine but quickly had the advantage evaporated.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks against the Miami Heat during Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series April 23, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cavs, Heat score update: Evan Mobley coast-to-coast dunk closes the gap

With neither team exactly setting the world on fire offensively, Evan Mobley has made it a 16-14 score with 3:42 left in the first quarter.

Mobley stole the ball near the Cavs' own basket, and he then dribbled coast-to-coast and finished with a two-handed dunk to make it a two-point score. After a very quiet first half in Game 1, Mobley has four points, two rebounds and a steal in the first quarter tonight.

Donovan Mitchell alley-oop cuts into Heat lead

The Heat have a 13-7 lead with 6:39 left in the first quarter, but the Cavs have the highlight of the night so far.

Jarrett Allen's block on the defensive end led to a fast break for the Cavs, and Darius Garland threw a lob to Donovan Mitchell, who slammed it home.

The Cavs are just 3-for-8 to open the game.

Cavs, Heat Game 2 score: Miami jumps out to early lead

This game opened in a very different way than Game 1, when everything went right for the Cavs from the opening jump.

Tonight, the Heat have jumped all over the Cavs early en route to a 13-5 lead four minutes into the game. This one has the makings of more of a fight.

Apr 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) celebrates his three-point basket in the first quarter of game two of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Here is some pregame information:

Cavs injury report vs. Miami Heat

The Cavs did not list any players on their injury report.

Heat injury report vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Heat ruled out guard Terry Rozier (left ankle sprain) and forward Kevin Love (personal reasons).

The Heat also listed the following players as available for Game 2: guards Alec Burks (lower back discomfort) and Pelle Larsson (right ankle sprain) and forwards Haywood Highsmith (left Achilles soreness), Nikola Jovic (broken right hand) and Duncan Robinson (left sacroiliac joint dysfunction).

Miami Heat make Game 2 adjustment vs. Cleveland Cavaliers by starting guard Davion Mitchell

Adjustments are the name of the game in the NBA playoffs, and the Heat changed their starting lineup for Game 2.

The Heat announced before Game 2 they will start guard Davion Mitchell, who scored 18 points in 34 minutes off the bench in Game 1. Mitchell will replace Alec Burks in the Heat's starting five. Mitchell will join guard Tyler Herro, forwards Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins and center Kel'el Ware as Miami's starters.

Cavs vs Heat series history

In the 2024-25 regular season, the Cavs went 2-1 versus the Heat.

In the regular season against the Heat, the Cavs lost 122-113 on Dec. 8 in Miami and won 126-106 on Jan. 29 in Miami and 112-107 on March 5 in Cleveland.

In Game 1, the Cavs beat the Heat 121-100.

The Cavs are 54-80 in their all-time series with the Heat, including Game 1. The two teams had never previously met in the playoffs.

Cavs playoffs: 'I feel the responsibility': Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson embraces pressure to succeed

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks during the first quarter of game one of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Heat 121-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Miami Heat 121-100 in Game 1. Looking back at how Cavs playoffs started

Here is our coverage from Game 1 in Cleveland:

Cleveland Cavs vs. Miami Heat predictions: Who wins NBA Eastern Conference first-round series?

Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich each see the Cavs winning the first-round series. Read more here on why and in how many games .

Apr 20, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) drives beside Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cleveland Cavaliers 2025 NBA playoff schedule

Here are the dates and times for the Cavs' first-round series:

Game 1: Cavs 121, Heat 100, Sunday, April 20
Game 2: Heat at Cavs — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, NBA TV
Game 3: Cavs at Heat — 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, TNT
Game 4: Cavs at Heat — TBD time Monday, April 28, TBD TV
Game 5: Heat at Cavs — TBD time Wednesday, April 30 (if necessary), TBD TV
Game 6: Cavs at Heat — TBD time Friday, May 2 (if necessary), TBD TV
Game 7: Heat at Cavs — TBD time Sunday, May 4 (if necessary), TBD TV

Cleveland Cavs news: Ty Jerome finishes third and De'Andre Hunter fourth in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting

Apr 20, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) and Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) reach for a loose ball in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

NBA playoff bracket: Eastern Conference

No. 1 seed Cavaliers vs. No. 8 seed Miami Heat (Cleveland leads series 1-0)
No. 2 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 seed Orlando Magic (Boston leads series 1-0)
No. 3 seed New York Knicks vs. No. 6 seed Detroit Pistons (series is tied 1-1)
No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 seed Milwaukee Bucks (Indiana leads series 2-0)

Note: If the Cavs were to advance past the first round, they would face the winner of Pacers versus Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream Cavs vs Heat in Game 2 of first round?

Game 2 can be watched nationally on NBA TV and locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs score, recap vs Heat: Cavaliers survive Miami rally to win Game 2

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