1 – Late game errors
These late-game situations have not been the norm this season, but they cost the Cavs on Wednesday.
The Cavs led by four points heading into the final two minutes when Isaac Okoro fouled Terry Rozier while making a three. Rozier’s free throw tied the game. Cleveland had a shot clock violation on the next possession, and two possessions later, Rozier made a three to give Miami a three-point lead with 14.1. The next possession for Cleveland saw eleven seconds come off the clock, and only a layup made by Georges Niang cut the lead to one, which sealed the fate of our Cavs.
2 – Awesome Allen
Jarrett Allen was fantastic, scoring 26 points while adding 20 boards.
3 – Bench
The Cleveland bench did not factor much into this game. Every Cleveland starter played at least 37 minutes, with Darius Garland leading the way with 41 minutes.
In a thrilling finish, Terry Rozier became the hero for the Miami Heat, scoring nine crucial points in the final 1:24 to secure a 107-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. His performance included a game-changing 3-pointer with just 14.5 seconds remaining on the clock.
Rozier’s remarkable run began with a spectacular 4-point play, followed by a clutch 26-foot shot that gave Miami a 105-102 lead. Despite a layup by Georges Niang for the Cavaliers, Rozier remained composed, sinking two free throws with only 2.8 seconds left.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance to force overtime, but Darius Garland’s off-balance 3-point attempt fell short, resulting in their third consecutive home game loss.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra emphasized Rozier’s importance, stating, “This is why we went after Terry. We wanted to have another guy who can make something happen late in games. He’s always been that kind of player in big moments with Charlotte and of course with Boston.”
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 30 points, while Rozier, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, contributed 24 points, much to the delight of his hometown crowd. Their efforts helped Miami close the gap to within half a game of Philadelphia for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen stood out for the Cavaliers with 25 points and an impressive 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Cleveland remained third in the Eastern Conference standings despite the loss.
Injuries plagued both teams, with key players missing from each lineup. Miami was without All-Star center Bam Adebayo and shooting guard Duncan Robinson, while the Cavaliers were missing All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, power forward Evan Mobley, and small forward Max Strus.
Despite initial struggles with his shooting, Rozier found his rhythm, making five of six 3-pointers in his return to Ohio.
Reflecting on his performance, Rozier expressed gratitude for the support of his teammates and coaches, saying, “My teammates and my coaches kept reminding me who I am. They told me just to keep shooting. Knowing my guys believed in me meant a lot.”
The game saw the Heat take an early lead, fueled by three technical fouls against the Cavaliers in a span of just 4 1/2 minutes in the second quarter, ultimately leading to a halftime score of 61-57 in favor of Miami.
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