Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers with 34 points in a commanding 126-106 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers (38-9) never trailed, securing their sixth wire-to-wire victory of the season.
Mitchell recorded his 14th 30-point game of the season and his fifth in the last seven outings. He shot 14-of-23 from the field, including five three-pointers, while adding six assists and two steals.
Ty Jerome provided a spark off the bench with 20 points and seven assists. Evan Mobley contributed 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Georges Niang chipped in 13 points. Jarrett Allen posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Miami (23-23) struggled early, scoring only 41 points in the first half, tying their season low. Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier led the Heat with 22 points each, while Bam Adebayo added 21 points and nine rebounds. Duncan Robinson scored 13 points, and Haywood Highsmith had 12.
Darius Garland, Cleveland’s second-leading scorer, was rested for the game.
Miami gained momentum in the third quarter, scoring 43 points after their sluggish start. Herro put up eight points in the final 40 seconds of the period, cutting the deficit to 94-84. However, Cleveland responded in the fourth, outscoring Miami 32-22 to seal the victory.
The loss marked the fourth time this season that the Heat never held a lead in a game. Jimmy Butler remained inactive due to a team suspension, while Josh Richardson was out with an injury.
Cleveland shot 54% from the field but struggled from deep, hitting only 13-of-42 three-point attempts. Miami shot 47% overall and made 15-of-43 from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers’ defense forced 12 turnovers, converting them into 20 points. Cleveland dominated the boards, outrebounding Miami 47-35.
