Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
There are few doubts remaining about the Miami Heat's prospects in this series. When it became clear that Darius Garland would not be available for Game 3, expectations for a straightforward Miami Heat victory increased significantly. Nevertheless, the Cleveland Cavaliers produced a dominant performance on the road with a commanding 124:87 victory.
Miami Heat
The Cleveland Cavaliers comfortably offset the absence of Darius Garland through their frontcourt players, with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley combining for 41 points. Bam Adebayo struggled on the defensive end, finishing with a –28 rating over 40 minutes of play. In Game 2, the Miami Heat at least managed a strong second half, but this time they were completely outplayed from start to finish.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are determined to conclude the first-round series swiftly to preserve energy for the later stages, a priority emphasized by head coach Kenny Atkinson. The Miami Heat, who battled fiercely for six weeks just to secure a playoff berth, have found themselves unable to match the pace and intensity of the Eastern Conference's top seed. The disparity in class is stark, particularly considering that even without significant scoring contributions from their two main offensive weapons—Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, who are averaging close to 50 points combined in the series—the Cavaliers still overwhelmed the Miami Heat by a 37-point margin. Donovan Mitchell made just four of his 14 shots in that game but still delivered in key moments, highlighting the squad’s considerable depth.
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
The Cleveland Cavaliers are targeting their 11th playoff sweep in franchise history, having won each of the previous ten series when leading 3:0. The Heat appear too vulnerable and significantly outmatched by the Cavaliers. The visitors are expected to close out the series with authority and move on to the next round.
