Miami Heat Stay Perfect At Home; Outlast Cavs In OT
In a game that featured dramatic momentum swings and clutch shot-making, the Miami Heat outlasted the Cleveland Cavaliers 140-138 in a wild overtime affair on Monday night. The contest was decided in the most dramatic way possible, with an Andrew Wiggins alley-oop dunk at the buzzer to give the Heat a memorable victory.
A Wild Overtime Finish For The Miami Heat
The final moments of overtime were a whirlwind of action. With the Heat clinging to a narrow lead, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell added another clutch shot to his career highlight reel, draining a 3-pointer with just 0.4 seconds left to tie the game at 138-138. It appeared the game was destined for a second overtime period.
However, the Heat had one last play. On the ensuing inbounds, Nikola Jovic launched a perfect lob pass toward the rim, and Andrew Wiggins soared to catch it and slam it home as time expired, sending the Miami crowd into a frenzy and sealing the incredible win. The play capped off a hard-fought contest and kept the Heat’s perfect home record intact.
Standout Performances on Both Sides
The game was a showcase of individual talent. The Heat were led by Norman Powell, who poured in 33 points to lead all scorers. Andrew Wiggins finished with 23 points, including the game-winner, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a spectacular all-around game off the bench with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Center Kel’el Ware also made a huge impact, pulling down 20 rebounds to go with his 14 points.
For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell was sensational, finishing with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists. De’Andre Hunter added 23 points, and Evan Mobley contributed a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland was relentless from beyond the arc, attempting 65 three-pointers and making 21 of them.
Heat Show Resilience
Miami’s victory was particularly impressive given its circumstances. The team was playing without two of its key starters, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, due to injuries. The Cavaliers also dealt with adversity, losing guard Darius Garland to a toe injury in the third quarter, a period that also saw coach Kenny Atkinson ejected.
Despite being shorthanded, the Heat’s “next man up” mentality was on full display. The win improved their home record to 5-0, a feat they have only accomplished twice before in franchise history. This back-and-forth thriller was a testament to Miami’s depth and resilience.
