The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading to the playoffs though they had to fight for it. Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Darius Garland dished out 10 assists, and Cleveland overcame a late scare to edge the Miami Heat 112-107, securing their 12th straight win and becoming the first team to clinch a postseason berth.
It was far from a smooth finish. The Heat, despite missing key players, led 107-106 with under three minutes to play. But Miami failed to score again, and Duncan Robinson’s potential game-tying three-pointer with 17.4 seconds left was ruled out after he stepped out of bounds. That call sealed Cleveland’s victory in a tense final stretch.
Bam Adebayo carried the Heat with a season-high 34 points, stepping up in the absence of leading scorer Tyler Herro. Miami was already without Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware, and Andrew Wiggins, forcing Erik Spoelstra to rely on a makeshift rotation. Even so, they pushed the Cavaliers to the limit.
Cleveland’s balanced attack proved decisive. Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter chipped in 16 points each, while Garland orchestrated the offense with poise. Mitchell, as he has done all season, delivered when it mattered most, leading the way as the Cavs tightened their grip on the Eastern Conference standings.
With their playoff ticket secured, Cleveland now shifts its focus to seeding. Their 12-game streak is the longest in the NBA this season, and with momentum on their side, they look every bit a contender as the postseason approaches.
