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Оксана Юрченко
  • 4/21/2025

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🥇
Sports
Transcript
00:00It's playoff time, this is what I go home.
00:11Come on, keep battling.
00:12This time people have to rise up.
00:14You guys are on three, one, two, three.
00:15Playoff teams need a certain mentality.
00:18We are not going fishing.
00:22That means we are not going down.
00:34We are not going to panic.
00:40We are not giving up.
00:46When the smoke clears, we will still be standing.
00:50The score is definitely like playoff basketball.
00:53Got to send them fishing, baby.
00:56The job's not done.
01:01We may have to prove it again and again.
01:05One game and one series at a time.
01:08It doesn't matter what it is going.
01:10Get it done.
01:11Get it done.
01:12Get it done.
01:13Yes.
01:15I'm going to come out.
01:17When you compete as a team,
01:19it's been very hard to beat.
01:20Luka the big time player.
01:21Luka magic in full blood.
01:23It's great to have, guys.
01:24It's been battle tested.
01:25Look out for love.
01:27It's about to be done.
01:29I know Ant-Man's ready.
01:30Ant-Man.
01:31Oh, it's on, ladies and gentlemen.
01:33It's about to be a patient.
01:34Welcome to the playoffs, y'all.
01:37Intensity is crazy.
01:38Every game matters.
01:39We know there's a lot more to be done, and we'll do it.
01:42I got a question for you.
01:43Who's going fishing?
01:44One, two, three.
01:45Can't go.
01:46But that's what the playoffs are about.
01:48Beautiful.
01:49Come on.
01:50Got it.
01:51Got it.
01:52Facing the pressure.
01:53Proving the non-believers wrong.
01:57And fighting for that crown.
02:01One, two, three.
02:08Tyler Hero in the Heat beat the Bulls and the Hawks to make the playoff field.
02:13Now they step up a weight class.
02:15Oof.
02:16Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs, the number one seed in the East.
02:20They meet in the playoffs for the first time.
02:23Next on TNT.
02:25Easter Sunday and the NBA playoffs.
02:41Great day to rise up.
02:43Thanks for being with us.
02:44It's TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax.
02:48Here we are in Studio J in Atlanta.
02:50Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny the Jet Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal.
02:54I think it was tough yesterday watching playoff hoops.
02:57It was fun.
02:58Wanted to get in here.
02:59It was fun.
03:00I watched every game.
03:02Have you really?
03:03Like, it was unbelievable yesterday just sitting around doing it.
03:06Quite the flex, huh, Kenny?
03:07No.
03:08He only gets paid to watch basketball.
03:10I don't watch anything.
03:11You always lie when you say that.
03:12You watch every NBA game.
03:14Stop it.
03:15Knock it off.
03:16The ones that get paid to watch.
03:17Knock it off.
03:18We can't wait for this.
03:19Are you excited about tonight?
03:20I sure am.
03:21Good.
03:22I'll bet you are.
03:23Here's our double header.
03:25We start in Cleveland.
03:26The Heat and the Cavs.
03:28And then we take it to Houston.
03:31Warriors and Rockets.
03:33Cannot wait to watch that series.
03:35All that experience on the Golden State side.
03:38It's going to mean absolutely nothing.
03:39Really?
03:40Absolutely.
03:41Absolutely.
03:42We'll see.
03:43We'll see.
03:44We'll see.
03:45Who would you rather have to cook your food?
03:46Somebody who's never cooked or somebody who's experienced cooking?
03:49Yeah.
03:50Who's a chef?
03:51I'm taking the non-cookers tonight.
03:52All right.
03:53The non-cookers.
03:54First order of business tonight.
03:57We have the honor of announcing the finalists for the regular season awards.
04:01The key of performance awards.
04:03And you can't do that without Nicole Talbert of Ernst and Young.
04:09A frequent visitor.
04:10Yes.
04:11To Studio J.
04:12And I did not know this up until a few minutes ago.
04:16Still celebrating the Florida Gators NCAA championship as a matter of fact.
04:22You said she's a frequent visitor.
04:23She comes once a year.
04:24No.
04:25She's here a lot of nights for all of these.
04:27It's a third time.
04:28Yeah.
04:29Once a year.
04:30No.
04:31You didn't know her apartment was behind in the cyber world.
04:34Come on.
04:35Back there.
04:36You know when I go behind the screen I pass her apartment.
04:37Thank you Nicole.
04:38We appreciate you.
04:39She's much better than an ugly dude who comes out here later.
04:41I don't even know who you're talking about.
04:45I'm not going to say Mark Broussard.
04:47Yeah.
04:48No.
04:49Golly.
04:50That's not nice.
04:51That's not nice.
04:52So here we go.
04:54We've got several awards.
04:57The finalists which we're going to reveal.
05:01And I obviously would like your help in doing this.
05:04Would you like to be a part of this?
05:06Yes I would.
05:07How about for the key of most improved player?
05:10Read it now because usually when I touch the envelope yours.
05:13Yeah you can.
05:14You can go right now.
05:15All right.
05:16The George Mikan Trophy goes to the winner of this.
05:19And these are the finalists.
05:24These are the finalists.
05:25These are the finalists.
05:27These are the finalists.
05:28This is not the winner.
05:29This is the finalists.
05:30Okay.
05:31The key of most improved player finalists.
05:33Didn't I say that?
05:34Cade Cunningham.
05:35Cade Cunningham.
05:36From Detroit Pistons.
05:37Mm-hmm.
05:38Dyson Daniels from the Atlanta Hawks.
05:41And Ivaka Zubach for the L.A. Clippers.
05:45It's the Zubach.
05:46Zubach.
05:47Okay.
05:48Very good.
05:49Well done.
05:51Well done.
05:52How about for the defensive player of the year?
05:53Oh.
05:54You sure you don't want to read this?
05:55You know.
05:56And this is appropriate because it's the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
05:59Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy.
06:00Yeah.
06:01The guy who got you your two trophies.
06:02Oh.
06:03Who got you yours?
06:04You're just bringing him water.
06:05You just bought him water when he got you.
06:07No name.
06:08You just bought him water during the Ramadan.
06:10Silence.
06:11Silence and Golden.
06:12Silence and Golden.
06:14Silence and Golden.
06:15Who helped you win the championship?
06:16Nobody.
06:18All right.
06:19Defensive player of the year.
06:20Wow.
06:21From the Atlanta Hawks.
06:23Dyson Daniels.
06:24Up for two awards here.
06:25Yeah.
06:26That's a heck of a season this year.
06:28And from the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green.
06:32And from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Evan Mobley.
06:36Very nice.
06:37Well done.
06:38Will you hand that to the Chuckster?
06:40This would be for the Clutch, the Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year,
06:45who gets the Jerry West Trophy.
06:47Rest in peace, Jerry West.
06:49Indeed.
06:50Great man.
06:51From the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson.
06:57From the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mr. Anthony Edwards.
07:01And from the Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic.
07:04There you go.
07:05Your three finalists for Clutch Player of the Year.
07:08How about the Kia sixth man?
07:10Oh, wow.
07:11We got more.
07:12It's a bunch of awards.
07:14I didn't know we were doing them all tonight.
07:17Malik Beasley from the Detroit Pistons.
07:21Ty Jerome from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
07:23And Peyton Pritchard from the Boston Celtics.
07:25Thank you very much.
07:26That's a tough race there.
07:27Thank you very much.
07:28That's a tough race.
07:29We can give him the trophy in person when we go up there for the Eastern Conference Finals.
07:33That ain't that tough.
07:34This would be for the...
07:36Malik's having a hell of a year.
07:37You've got the rookie of the year here, correct?
07:38Oh, the rookie...
07:39Check it out.
07:40...of the year, ladies and gentlemen.
07:41The rookie of the year.
07:42Yes.
07:43Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
07:44What?
07:45The rookie of the year?
07:46Wilt Chamberlain?
07:47From the San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Castle.
07:54From the Atlanta Hawks, Zachary Richa Shea.
07:59And from the Memphis Grizzlies, Jalen Weld.
08:02Now, Ernie, did I say his name?
08:03Yes, you did.
08:04Okay, I just want to...
08:05No, you did.
08:06I don't want to pronounce his name incorrectly when he's getting an award.
08:09Or it might be getting an award.
08:10It might be getting an award.
08:11You don't know how to say Jalen?
08:12Again, these are the finalists, boys and girls.
08:14You say from the Atlanta Hawks.
08:15Who's that?
08:16Zachary Ricochet.
08:17No, not Ricochet.
08:18Ricochet.
08:19Ricochet.
08:20There you go.
08:21I just said it correctly and you didn't hear me.
08:22How about...
08:23Give a touch to this one.
08:25The coach of the year.
08:27Coach of the year.
08:29This is going to be tough right here.
08:32I ain't going to lie.
08:33But these are the best guys.
08:35Did one of them get fired?
08:36Nope.
08:37Red Auerbach Trophy, by the way, goes to the winner.
08:39From the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kenny Atkinson.
08:43From the Detroit Pistons, J.B. Bickleston.
08:47Oof.
08:48And from the Houston Rockets, Emi Yudoka.
08:52Wow.
08:53That's a tough group.
08:54That's a tough group right there.
08:55That's a tough group.
08:56I've only got one envelope left and this is for the MVP.
08:59That's you, Arnie.
09:00You're the MVP of this year.
09:01The Michael Jordan Trophy, of course, going to the league's MVP.
09:06Flash in the pan.
09:07Here are your finalists for MVP.
09:11Giannis Anadokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
09:14Shea Gilgis-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
09:17And Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets.
09:21So, there are all of your finalists.
09:23Wait, wait, wait.
09:24Who are the three MVP?
09:25I'm sorry.
09:26Giannis.
09:27SGA.
09:28SGA.
09:29I didn't hear him say SGA.
09:30I was like, wait a minute.
09:31He didn't say SGA.
09:32He said Shea Gilgis-Alexander.
09:33Okay, yeah.
09:34Threw me off.
09:35I used to say SGA.
09:36Threw me off.
09:37I was about to go crazy up there.
09:38Actually said his name.
09:39Okay.
09:40I could have said The Freak, SGA, and The Joker.
09:42Okay.
09:43Okay.
09:44There you go.
09:45Threw me off.
09:46Those are your finalists.
09:47Now, how about getting down to some playoff work as far as the...
09:51We're going to show this thing.
09:53We are going to show this thing.
09:55Come on, man.
09:56Close your eyes, America.
09:58There's Shea Gilgis-Alexander.
09:59The MVP right there, y'all.
10:00Also here's SGA.
10:01Okay.
10:02All right.
10:03Nice little move by Ja Morant there.
10:05But look at Zach Eady getting blocked by Chet Holmgren.
10:08Give me that.
10:09Give me that.
10:10Zach.
10:11Tell you what.
10:12This was over quick and painless right here, bro.
10:14Y'all.
10:15It was.
10:16It was...
10:17Stop the ball.
10:18A thorough demolition.
10:2112 is already better than that tonight.
10:22Hey.
10:23Hey.
10:24Hey.
10:25That Holmgren for three.
10:27Yeah.
10:28You know what the worst thing about this?
10:29No.
10:30You got to stay in Oklahoma City for two more days while everybody looks at it.
10:3312-point game after one and then OKC goes 23-2 to start the second quarter.
10:40Hey, man.
10:41And included there was a 20-0 run.
10:43Tell you what, man.
10:44Their depth is incredible.
10:46Mm-hmm.
10:47You know, Sam.
10:48Sam Preston, Masai Ujiri, they're the best two general managers in this league by far.
10:53Well, you'd have to give the edge to Sam because he's drafted four MVPs.
10:58I know.
10:59I agree with that.
11:00He's drafted four guys who won the MVP award.
11:02But I'm just saying, that guy Masai Ujiri up in Toronto is amazing.
11:06Those are the best two.
11:07And some of these guys, they're just stealing money, these other general managers.
11:11It was a 32-point game at the half, 68-36.
11:15SGA, 15-point day, only four out of 13.
11:20He just rested up a game, too.
11:22And one for seven from deep.
11:24Imagine that.
11:25Your best player, your MVP candidate, has kind of an off day.
11:28Well, it would have been about 60 if you had a good game.
11:31Yeah, but you got the others playing well, so it don't matter, Ernie.
11:34You know, I'm so proud of that Lou Dart kid, man.
11:37He's a great defender, but he learned to shoot that ball.
11:40And I'm really proud of that kid.
11:42Do not adjust your sets.
11:44131-80 is your final score as the Thunder make it ten straight wins over the Grizzlies.
11:53Remember in high school when the coach wouldn't stop on the way home if he got beat?
11:56I wouldn't even feed the Grizzlies.
11:58You wouldn't feed the Grizzlies?
11:59I wouldn't feed the Grizzlies.
12:01Can we please have some yakety-yak?
12:03You wouldn't feed them, Chuck.
12:04I wouldn't feed them.
12:05I love it.
12:06The goal tonight when we woke up was to win the game, and nothing else mattered, and we did that.
12:12So whatever it looks like, I'll take it.
12:14As long as we win, I'm happy.
12:17Regardless of what the score is, whether you're up or down, you're always building habits.
12:21You're always setting a tone in a series.
12:23And I thought all the guys did a great job of just running through the finish line of the game.
12:27It's pretty predictable that they're going to be better, and they're going to be motivated on Tuesday.
12:31And we need to have our mind wrapped around that.
12:34What are you telling your guys after something you play, after a game like this?
12:37We'll never, you know, play that bad again.
12:40So what are the odds that you take away knowing this only one loss you've got another game coming up?
12:45If we win Tuesday, the series won't win.
12:48This game won't matter.
12:50As Mark Dagnall pointed out, talk about setting the tone.
12:54That certainly did, and a 51-point win is the fifth largest in playoff history.
13:02It is the largest game one margin of victory as the Thunder roll by 51.
13:10Zachary, what?
13:12Ricochet.
13:13Ricochet.
13:14Ricochet.
13:15Ricochet.
13:16Ricochet.
13:17He did a great job.
13:18You were right on.
13:19I'm not from France.
13:20Spot on.
13:21We don't teach France down in Leeds, Alabama.
13:23Yeah, exactly.
13:24Y'all are going to have French toast.
13:26We've got highlights of the Celtics and the magic on the way.
13:32The NBA Tip-Off is brought to you by CarMax.
13:36The way car buying should be.
13:38Easter suit.
13:39Fresh as you'd expect.
13:40Fresh as hell.
13:41You know, I did kind of do that.
13:42I did kind of say, you know what?
13:43It's Easter Sunday.
13:44Let's wear that purple Easter.
13:45Yeah.
13:46Dude, you wear a nice suit all the time.
13:47Stop it.
13:48No, but the colors.
13:49I don't know how to take that, Chuck, but thank you.
13:50You know what?
13:51I appreciate that very much.
13:52Ernie, you always fly.
13:53Let's jump into the vault.
13:54What do you say?
13:55Or at least open the door.
13:56Or at least open the door.
13:57You got the sinks over here.
13:59Oh, look at you.
14:00Chuck Stern.
14:01Awesome.
14:02Nice.
14:03You got the sinks over here.
14:04Oh, look at you.
14:05Chuck Stern.
14:06Awesome.
14:07Nice.
14:08You got the sinks over here.
14:09There was absolutely no doubt he was going to make that happen.
14:32You can't put a chocolate chip cookie that close to the Chuck Stern and not have it.
14:35Anything with food, Chuck makes it look sweet.
14:37That was a challenge.
14:39Can you have a cookie on your forehead?
14:41And he did it.
14:42Without touching it.
14:43Yeah.
14:44Ten times.
14:45Ten times in a row.
14:46Ten times in a row he did that.
14:47And that's my last cookie for a minute.
14:49Yeah, right.
14:50Yeah.
14:51Since when that happened.
14:53No, no.
14:54Because I'm going on my diet tomorrow.
14:56My playoff diet.
14:57No, you're not going on no diet.
14:58I am.
14:59No, you're not.
15:00Don't lie.
15:01Shout out to RoHealth.
15:02I thought you were already on one.
15:03I know.
15:04I'm starting a new one.
15:05You're not going on no diet.
15:06Time out.
15:07Kenny.
15:08He's not going on no diet.
15:09Take a shot once a week.
15:10That's not a diet.
15:11Yes, yes.
15:12I'm taking a shot.
15:13That's not a diet.
15:14I need somebody to teach me how to do the shot though.
15:15Any nurses around here?
15:16No.
15:17A diet is when you change your eating habits.
15:18Because it comes in a little vile.
15:19I've done it for different reasons.
15:20I've done it with a blood thinner before.
15:21Yeah.
15:22Piece of cake.
15:23But how do you get it?
15:24I got to get it in the syringe.
15:25Listen.
15:26No, it's already in the syringe.
15:27No, it's not.
15:28No, it's not.
15:29That's the thing.
15:30It should be.
15:31No, it's not.
15:32That's what I'm going with.
15:33Y'all go to RoHealth and come join me on this fat journey.
15:35Anyway, you're on your own on that one.
15:37You ain't going to do that.
15:38You ain't gonna go out there.
15:39You're cheating.
15:40That's what you're doing.
15:41I'm not cheating.
15:42I'm not cheating.
15:43That's cheating.
15:44Going to see a doctor ain't cheating.
15:45Yeah.
15:46Stop eating that fried chicken, cheater.
15:47Yeah.
16:00You can't eat fried chicken and just take a shot.
16:02No, you won't.
16:04Apparently you can.
16:05I'm going to wash it down with a bottle of syrup.
16:07Jason Tatum connects.
16:09I'm going to test that thing.
16:12Paul Anthony got blocked by Porzingis.
16:14Back the other way.
16:15This guy right here is a just a shooter, man.
16:17Like pin-birthing, unbelievable.
16:20Pritch, please, as they say up there in Boston.
16:22Hey, get up there.
16:23Hey, you can't get that move.
16:25That's tough.
16:25Is that not a travel?
16:27No.
16:27No, because it's a stock.
16:29In our day it was.
16:30What the hell day is we in?
16:32He picked up both feet.
16:34He doesn't travel, Chuck.
16:35Hey, thank you.
16:36That's a travel, man.
16:37Hey, put your peach basket down and watch the highlights, okay?
16:40Here we go.
16:41Look at all of them.
16:42You can't pick up one for your fan.
16:43Listen, Allen Iverson carries, too.
16:45Yeah.
16:45Newsflash.
16:47Franz.
16:48Wagner.
16:49Yes.
16:49They hung in there in the first half.
16:51Yeah, they're up 49-48 at the half.
16:54And then.
16:55Boston must have got chewed out at halftime.
16:57It was a methodical, business-like approach in the second half.
17:01Yeah, this stuff is going to be tough on anybody.
17:04Yeah.
17:05They're the champs.
17:06Yeah, they just continue.
17:07That's a continuous waterfall.
17:08Oh.
17:09I thought he was going to dominate that.
17:11They outscored them 55-37 in the second half.
17:18That was just, they just came out and just blew them out in the second half.
17:22Yeah, they did.
17:23Jalen Brown there.
17:25Um, Derrick White had himself a 30-piece, the third game this year with at least 30.
17:31And then, here's where everybody in Boston was holding their breath, because Jason Tatum
17:37went down and grabbed that right wrist.
17:38You'll be all right.
17:39Get some icey hot.
17:40Man up.
17:41All right.
17:42Stop trying to catch yourself, guys.
17:43I keep telling y'all that.
17:44KCP gets called for a flagrant one.
17:46There ain't no flagrant, Ernie.
17:47I don't know about that.
17:48It's called a flagrant one.
17:51And, um, so how's Tatum?
17:53Gonna stick around.
17:54Gonna get back in there.
17:56Gonna hit the long-range three.
17:59Every great player know you only hurt on defense.
18:02You don't hurt on offense.
18:03That's right.
18:04Tell him, Chuck.
18:05Come on.
18:06At least every great player from Leeds knows that.
18:08No, I'm telling you.
18:09Derrick White again.
18:11And it's a 103-86 final.
18:14I'm a fast break points in this game.
18:1726-4 in favor of the Celtics, who again outscore Orlando 55-37 in the second half.
18:26And, uh, successfully begin their defense of their NBA title.
18:31You see the difference in the first and second halves there.
18:34And, uh, Boston turning it up after Orlando gave them something to think about there in the first half.
18:41No, they didn't give them nothing to think about.
18:42They were just on cruise control.
18:44That's right.
18:45Chuck lying on Easter about his cookie diet.
18:48That's right.
18:49Shame.
18:50Shame.
18:51Shame.
18:52Shame.
18:53I could have done really dumb without this image.
18:55Yeah, yeah.
18:56Me too.
18:57Why is he smiling?
18:58Yeah.
18:59Because he likes it.
19:01Stop it.
19:02So.
19:03Stop it.
19:04What did you think of that?
19:05What did you think of the Celtics' second half?
19:07I could ask you about the first half, too.
19:09But what did you think overall of the Celtics' first half?
19:12Well, second half, I'm sure Coach Missoula ripped them a new one.
19:15And they came out with much more focus in the second half and play.
19:18And listen, I'm always talking about the others because what they did for me when it comes to winning championship.
19:23The others for the Boston, Pritchard and White, if they're playing like that, Boston has a really good chance of repeating.
19:29But OKC may have something to say about that.
19:32But they play well.
19:33They play like they're supposed to do.
19:34I agree with Chuck.
19:35They were on cruise control in the first half.
19:37And then the second half, they said, OK, we're the champs.
19:39This is what we got to do.
19:40But kudos to Pritchard and Derek White.
19:42Yeah.
19:43And you better stop disrespecting my Cavaliers, too.
19:45Talking about OKC already.
19:48That the team has the best record in the East is playing tonight.
19:52Don't act like they're just automatically going to the finals.
19:54Do you expect to see Cleveland do something that is Oklahoma City-like and being the number one seed and you play your first game and you just, you say, look, you've got no reason to be here, Miami.
20:06I think it's different because Miami is such a, such a, they got, Miami's not going to do what Memphis did.
20:11Miami is too methodical.
20:13They have a way they play basketball.
20:15But I do think they need to come out and set the tone like, because this could be a long series.
20:20I think Cleveland will win.
20:22But Miami is supposed to go have those guys ready.
20:25But the Heat are going, I mean, the Heat, they're probably one of the best coach teams in the NBA.
20:31They won't get blown out, I don't think.
20:33I always look at game one and two as eight quarters in terms of you just have to win either the first four or the second four quarters.
20:40You know, they're one unit.
20:42So there's a connectivity.
20:43So as John Moran said, if we win the next one, it's 1-1.
20:48And now it's pressures on them.
20:49So you cannot, because those first two games on the road or at home, you can't look at them as one separate game.
20:59They are connected together.
21:00If you win game one and you're a home team, you've got to win game two.
21:07Four quarters.
21:09Oh!
21:10Damn, Ernie.
21:11Is that a Coogee?
21:12It is.
21:13This is better now.
21:14This is better now.
21:15When that was.
21:16Oh!
21:17Oh!
21:18That's beautiful.
21:19Spiro Ditas.
21:20Candice Parker.
21:21Spiro looks nice and Candice looks great.
21:23Yeah.
21:24Spiro's always fly though.
21:26Yeah.
21:27We'll take a break.
21:28Come back and wrap things up in a second.
21:31You're going there, Ernie.
21:32I know you.
21:33How all FanDuel customers can get a no sweat, same game parlay every weekend of the NBA playoffs.
21:40Use your token on a same game parlay or same game parlay.
21:46Undefeated.
21:47Oh!
21:48Undefeated.
21:49I'm going undefeated in the playoffs.
21:50Plus, you'll get bonus bets back if you don't win.
21:53Undefeated.
21:54Make the playoffs more on America's number one sportsbook.
21:59Steph going 25.
22:00Jim Butler going 20.
22:01Yep.
22:02Jalen Green getting 20 in his playoff debut.
22:05Yep.
22:06Dylan Brooks getting 10 points.
22:07Lock.
22:08Lock.
22:09Let me ask you a question.
22:10Roll that script back for a second, Peter.
22:13Would you?
22:14Did I say the same thing over and over?
22:16Keep going back.
22:17Use your token on a same game parlay or same game parlay.
22:22Wow.
22:23I probably should have read that one over before I put it on the air.
22:27Sounds good.
22:28Anyway.
22:30Would you like to guarantee your action tonight?
22:34This is dangerous.
22:35I know I work with some fools.
22:36It always is.
22:37I'm going to win tonight.
22:39I'm going undefeated.
22:40Guaranteed.
22:41Guaranteed.
22:42Guaranteed.
22:49Oh, it's the old ping pong balls in the Raptors routine.
22:54Oh, y'all saw him hitting me.
22:56This never gets old.
22:57Y'all saw it.
22:58Y'all hurt me, man.
23:00The old ping pong ball in the ceiling.
23:03Y'all got this thing in my Diet Coke, man.
23:07It's part of your new diet.
23:08It's crazy.
23:09Yeah.
23:10That's crazy.
23:12Ha ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
23:13Dream on.
23:14Dream on.
23:16Dream on.
23:19Dream on.
23:20Dream on.
23:21Dream until your dream comes blue.
23:23Dream on.
23:28Dream on.
23:29Dream on.
23:31It'll be Miami and Cleveland in the first round.
23:41The work doesn't stop now.
23:42Just really just getting started.
23:43Got to turn up our intensity.
23:44Go be us.
23:45This entire season leading up to this point is heat culture.
23:48We're ready for the challenge.
23:49We are in for a treat.
23:52Downtown Cleveland on this Easter Sunday evening where it has been nearly a decade since this city exercised this championship demons and now a new crop of Cavaliers believes that it is their time to write their own championship scripts beginning tonight as we welcome you to first round coverage on TNT.
24:19It's presented by NerdWallet first round best of seven the Cleveland Cavaliers the one seed in the east and the Miami Heat first ever 10 seed to make their way through the play in and into the postseason bracket and look at where the two teams sit.
24:37Winner of this we're moving on to take on the winner between Indiana and Milwaukee and with that we say welcome to downtown Cleveland.
24:44Happy Easter.
24:45Spiro did is so happy to be hanging out over the first couple of rounds of the playoffs with the great Kansas Parker.
24:52We'll hear from Dennis Scott in just a couple of minutes candles.
24:55Let's dive right in.
24:55What a year one here for Kenny Atkinson 60 plus wins three all-stars just completely flip the script for this team.
25:02And now the only question left can they take that next step.
25:06Well, Kenny Atkinson said in his first press conference health is wealth and this team is coming into this playoff series healthy,
25:12which is number one again 15 wins to start the season Donovan Mitchell numbers aren't gaudy like we're used to seeing he's taking a step back.
25:21His team has taken a step forward.
25:24They've unlocked Mobley.
25:25They've been able to unlock Garland and guess what 64 wins later in the regular season.
25:30Let's see if it'll translate into the playoffs.
25:33It's crazy to think it's a team that won 47 games last year flamed out in that semifinal series against Boston.
25:40No real wholesale changes.
25:42They just ran it back and had one of the all-time seasons in the history of this franchise.
25:46Our starting lineups presented by Kia Garland and Mitchell, the two-headed monster for this Cleveland team.
25:53Evan Mobley's emergence as an offensive threat.
25:58Everyone knows what he's been defensively.
25:59In the meantime, this Miami Heat team, they're just battle-tested.
26:04Obviously, the Jimmy Butler trade, Candace, that really turned their season on its head.
26:08But it just feels like over the last three, four weeks, they have found something with this current group
26:14and they're playing with extreme confidence entering this one tonight.
26:17Well, a lot of it has to do with Tyler Hero.
26:19You see the numbers for the regular season, the best of his career.
26:24But then again, just in terms of them being the spoilers, we understand Heat culture.
26:29But you also understand that they were the last team to upset a number eight seed.
26:34And they did start number one seed.
26:36And they did so to go to the finals.
26:38And they were up 1-0 on the Nuggets.
26:40So this Heat team is not a number eight seed.
26:44Andrew Wiggins, one of the new pieces.
26:46But they still have most of the nucleus of that team two years ago.
26:50That 23-1 to the finals.
26:52Bam.
26:53Of course, Hero.
26:55The scene in this place is just raucous at the start.
27:01Not a seed to be had.
27:03A sea of white.
27:05They're doing out there white.
27:06Playoff t-shirts.
27:08The joint is jumping.
27:09And we are ready to run here in downtown Cleveland.
27:13David Guthrie, Courtney Kirkland, Eric Dalen are officiating crew.
27:18The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.
27:21First ever postseason meeting, which is hard to believe.
27:25And we are off and running here in Cleveland.
27:28Here's Garland, Max Struess, and they're the officials with a quick whistle.
27:34Maybe a little clock malfunction.
27:36Campus looks like they've got it figured out.
27:39A little nerves in the building, not just the players.
27:42On the sideline as well.
27:44You got it right.
27:45Max Struess, the former Miami Heat.
27:48Obviously settling into his role here.
27:51As he has become one of the key pieces for this Cavaliers team.
27:54And here comes Garland on the wing.
27:57Struess gets this thing started for Cleveland.
28:03And again, you see Struess knocks down the three and then runs up to pressure Tyler Hero.
28:08He's going to get that assignment on the night.
28:11Tyler Hero coming off two really outstanding games on the offensive end.
28:15Shooting the ball really well.
28:17Miami Heat winning their two play-in games both on the road.
28:20Wednesday in Chicago in a 19-point win.
28:22And then fighting in overtime in that thriller against the Atlanta Hawks.
28:28Travel annihilation.
28:30And again, you see Allen coming over and pressing and making Wiggins make a decision in that mid-post.
28:40I think what's undervalued is the Cavs' front-court presence and their help-side defense.
28:45There's also that conversation rust versus rest.
28:51This Jalen Ackner, Jarrett Allen couldn't squeeze it.
28:55Cavaliers have been off for about a week.
28:58Didn't find out who their first-round opponent would be until obviously late Friday night.
29:02So less than 48 hours to prepare.
29:04How would they start this game?
29:06Big question.
29:08We'll have the folks here in Cleveland think of the last couple of days.
29:11Tyler Hero's sensationalist.
29:13Candace just alluded to the last couple of weeks.
29:16Well short.
29:19Mitchell doing his dance.
29:21And you can tell there are some fresh legs out here for the Cavs as Jarrett Allen cleans up that second-chance point.
29:31That's a bit of point of emphasis for the Cavs down the stretch is making sure that you're keeping Allen by the basket
29:36so the Cavs will have an opportunity to have those second-chance points.
29:40A lot of bio-banging bodies with garlic and the spin makes it look easy.
29:47Bam on a bio.
29:47Interesting guy who's been an all-star in this league.
29:50He's played at such a high level.
29:51A little bit of a slow start to his season, but especially since the Jimmy Butler train.
29:58He's gone back to his old level.
30:00Canvases Mitchell draws contact on the perimeter.
30:03Kenny Atkinson just announced a short time ago, coach of the year finalist with Emei Udoka, J.B. Bickerstaff.
30:09Just an unbelievable season here as this franchise gets to 60 wins for the third time in their history.
30:18And what a chess match it's going to be, Candace, with those two.
30:21Eric Spolstrup, two-time NBA championship winning coach.
30:25A lot of battles when Kenny Atkinson was the head coach in Brooklyn.
30:29As Mitchell hits on the first.
30:31And you think about these two coaches and the experiences that they've had,
30:34obviously playing against each other in the playoffs when Kenny Atkinson was in Brooklyn.
30:40But also now, Kenny Atkinson going and being on the bench in Golden State.
30:44And being a part of that culture.
30:46And bringing some of that to the Cavs.
30:48You know, you can feel it.
30:49There's a perfect time for everything.
30:51And it just seems like Donovan Mitchell, eight years into his career,
30:54he's ready for this type of basketball.
30:57He's ready to be on the stage.
31:02Hero against Adebayo.
31:03Puts it in the deck.
31:04What a matchup there between Bam and Mobley.
31:08The way Mobley defends Candace on the perimeter.
31:10Guy of his size and what just makes him so unique.
31:14Mitchell just lethal.
31:17And that right there is why you call him the spider.
31:21His ability to knock down the three, but also get to the basket.
31:26Three-level scorer.
31:28And he looks very healthy.
31:29Sitting out the last couple games to nurse that injured ankle.
31:35Set up the final five games of the season.
31:37First game for him since April the 6th.
31:40Alec Burks fills it up from deep.
31:42And if you're going to battle with the Cavs,
31:44you've got to be able to knock down threes on the other end to counter that.
31:48The Cavs live beyond the arc as Mobley knocks another one down on cue.
31:55Evan Mobley starts in threes with any consistency.
31:58Look out.
31:59Average better than 18.5 points shot.
32:02Better than 55% from the field.
32:04As TRL misses well short.
32:05He's been short on his first two looks.
32:09And Miami now two of their first five from the field.
32:14He's screwed.
32:15They're in the first two.
32:32Welcome back to the playoffs here on Team Team.
32:37As the Cavs are up 14-5.
32:39So many nerds about our NBA of, are you ready to graduate?
32:43Well, the Cavs have done everything.
32:45They went out and got DeAndre Hunter at the trade deadline.
32:48They asked the question, could Garland and Mitchell play together?
32:52They answered that question.
32:54So now, for our viewers, are the Cavaliers ready to graduate?
32:58Are they ready to go to the next level?
33:00And so far this season, they have done all the right things.
33:03Donovan Mitchell is doing less, less is more.
33:06The Twin Towers, they're protecting the paint.
33:08And offensively, the ball is moving at a high level.
33:12So I say it again, is this team ready to graduate and go to the next level?
33:19And right now, fans, we have a little technical difficulty.
33:22Bear with us.
33:23Andrew Wiggins has the ball right now in the wing.
33:26Pass the wear.
33:29Back to Wiggins for the three.
33:31Money ball.
33:35All right, Donovan Mitchell comes down the right wing.
33:37Jarrett Allen sets the screen.
33:41Swings it.
33:44Garland being patient.
33:46Attacks the floater.
33:48Misses.
33:50Miami Heat with the rebound.
33:51Wiggins on the right wing.
33:52Wiggins on the wing.
33:57Nice bounce pass to Bam.
33:59Two big ones.
34:02Miami Heat hanging in there at the timeout.
34:0414-10.
34:06Garland bringing down the court.
34:09Staggered screen set here.
34:14Garland probing.
34:15To the post.
34:18Oh.
34:18Oh.
34:21Good defense by the Heat.
34:2414-10 here in the first quarter.
34:28A little technical difficulty.
34:29We'll get Spiro and Candice back here in a minute.
34:32Bam brings the ball down the court.
34:34Hero.
34:36Hero.
34:37Fresh screen.
34:39Isolation.
34:43Swing.
34:45Hero with the three.
34:47Splash.
34:5014-13.
34:52The Heat on a small run here after the timeout.
34:55Johnny Mitchell attacking.
34:59Garland.
35:00Fake floater.
35:01Good.
35:03Garland with the floater.
35:05To stop the bleeding a little bit.
35:09Hero left wing.
35:12Blair.
35:12Back to Hero.
35:15Hero with a little bump.
35:18Misses.
35:19Bam hustles.
35:21Down the Mitchell right wing.
35:24Nice little shimmy shape.
35:26Heat defense.
35:29Wiggins pushing.
35:31Alley.
35:31Oh my goodness.
35:33Bam with the good hands.
35:37Timeout Cavaliers.
35:40Cavaliers trying to hold on to a one-point lead here in the first quarter on TNT.
35:43The 2025 NBA playoffs are presented by Google.
35:54Pretty Easter Sunday evening downtown Cleveland.
35:58As we welcome you back.
35:59This is your Adidas Candice Parker.
36:00We apologize for a little audio issues.
36:03I heard Dennis Scott's play-by-play.
36:05Candice was tremendous.
36:06Over, under.
36:07How many times did he say leave it?
36:08How many times did he say leave it?
36:10Not more than six.
36:11So Cleveland jumped out to a 14-5 lead.
36:15Quick answer by Miami.
36:1710-2 run.
36:18What have you seen here the last couple of minutes?
36:20Well, Miami's doing a great job of getting into the paint and then drawing out.
36:24And Kent Hero got a catch-and-shoot in that quarter that I'm sure that Kenny Atkinson doesn't want to give Tyler Hero any easy looks.
36:32And then, obviously, Andrew Wiggins doing a great job on the defensive end and translating into offense.
36:37So, let's see if Cleveland can get it going in this half-court set.
36:41Barman trying to get his open spot.
36:45Misses a little bit too much on that three-pointer as Wiggins clears for Miami.
36:51Kalil Ware, really impressive, dynamic, young piece, has checked into the game for Eric Spolstry.
36:57Get a whistle here underneath.
36:58Candice, you look at the Heat.
37:01Obviously, the odds are stacked against you.
37:03You're an 8-C.
37:04But what has to happen for this team with Eric Spolstry to give themselves a shot?
37:09What are you looking for in this series?
37:10Will the Heat have to do a better job of executing offensively in the half-court?
37:15I think they've done a great job getting out to early leads.
37:18And, you know, Coach Spolstra said that in all of the games that they lost, as you see, Wiggins knocks it down.
37:25And all those games that they lost after the Butler trade, they were in all of those games.
37:30Those were close games.
37:31They just couldn't execute in the half-court when they needed to.
37:34And so, you'll see a lot of the burden be on Wiggins and be on Hero.
37:39But you've got to have the X-Factors stepped up.
37:41And you saw Mitchell did just that in the playing.
37:44Offensive rebound by Allen.
37:46This is Ty Jerome.
37:47Just announced tonight as a finalist for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
37:51The Andre Hunter.
37:52Allen turned back.
37:55What a defensive recovery underneath.
37:57So, if you just hopped on with us, Miami was down nine points.
38:01And they have taken their first lead of the night.
38:04Look at the defense by Ware.
38:05And everybody's talking about guard play, of course.
38:07But the front-court face-off in this series.
38:11Talk about Ware.
38:12You talk about between Allen.
38:15Pio throwing both of you there.
38:17It's going to be a lot of fight in that paint that's going to determine,
38:20especially this game one in this series.
38:24Foul charge to Haywood Highsmith.
38:26That'll be his first.
38:27And it's going to put Darius Garland at the free-throw line for two.
38:31Here now, Kenny and Chuck with a word from FanDuel.
38:36Hey, Chuck.
38:37Mr. Barkley.
38:38No, it's the playoffs.
38:39Chuck, don't forget to download the FanDuel Sports app.
38:42It's the best place for all our betting and same-game parlays.
38:45I'm trying to do this fast before Shaq throws ping-pong balls.
38:48And it pays out instantly.
38:50Who scores more points tonight?
38:53Tyler Hero or Donovan Mitchell?
38:55I'm going to go with Donovan Mitchell.
38:58I agree with you tonight.
39:03Tremendous concentration by Kenny.
39:07And we are tied again.
39:08By the way, the officials changed that last foul.
39:10And they gave it to Ware as we cross the five-minute mark.
39:15This is Davion Mitchell.
39:16What a piece.
39:17What an addition he's been in the middle of the season.
39:18Gets it to Wiggins.
39:19Six to shoot.
39:21Back to Mitchell.
39:23Working against.
39:24Merrill misses the floater.
39:26Wiggins from deep.
39:29So Miami, good three-point shooting at the start.
39:32Wiggins unable to hit.
39:34And we're still tied.
39:35And right here, Garland, this is where...
39:38This is his time to shine in the offense.
39:40You've got Mowgli.
39:41And you have Donovan Mitchell on the bench.
39:43This is where he's the focal point.
39:45He's going to have to take advantage of mismatches.
39:48Garland against.
39:49Hero boy covered a lot of real estate.
39:52Working awfully hard.
39:53Going glass.
39:54And that puts the Cavaliers back in front.
39:58So they blow the nine-point lead.
40:01And this thing has been intense right from the start.
40:04Mitchell.
40:06Allen lob.
40:06It's right down by Wiggins.
40:10Resetting Mitchell.
40:10Back to Wiggins.
40:13Drop stepping against Hunter.
40:15And Allen picked his pocket.
40:21Garland against Mitchell.
40:22And he's turned back.
40:23It's Ware again.
40:24Ware's length on that play.
40:26Starting in Miami's fast break here.
40:29As Hero gets fouled.
40:33Tied Jerome telling Kenny Atkinson to look at a replay here.
40:37Potentially challenge.
40:39You see right here, Garland.
40:41We call that dancing in the playoffs.
40:43Did this all regular season.
40:44It does translate into the postseason.
40:47And then, again, you see the length of Kalel Ware.
40:51Just cleaning up anything in the paint.
40:54What a luxury.
40:55What a luxury to have.
40:57You have Bam Adebayo and you have Kalel Ware on your defensive end.
41:04Just feel the confidence every time Ware steps onto the floor.
41:08A rookie young man was taken with a 15th overall pick.
41:11All things NBA.
41:12One tap away.
41:13Get the latest scores.
41:14Follow your favorite team and players.
41:15And go behind the scenes all in one place.
41:18Download the NBA app today.
41:20Powered by Microsoft.
41:22And, of course, the man who has put it all together, Eric Spoelstra.
41:25Crazy to think.
41:26Year 17 for Spoelstra.
41:28Ninth best playoff win percentage now, Candice, in the history of the league.
41:35Those back-to-back title seasons in 2012-2013.
41:40And a mastermind in the postseason.
41:42When you talk about playing checkers, this man is playing.
41:45He's playing chess at all times and definitely allows his team to be who they are.
41:51Mobile gets the slam.
41:56Donovan Mitchell.
41:58Exquisite pass.
42:00And the Cavaliers back in front.
42:02Mitchell, a little hesitation maneuvering.
42:04He's going high off glass.
42:05Mitchell picking up where he left off in the play-in.
42:08You talk about an X-Factor and that Atlanta Hawks' overtime.
42:12He made almost every single play.
42:14Mitchell.
42:16Put him in the old spin cycle.
42:19And Mitchell red-hot.
42:21You mentioned the juice in the leg.
42:23So at the time off, again, his first game in another two weeks.
42:27And that left ankle healed up.
42:30A lot of contact was coming.
42:34And it looks like it'll be a side of the bounce here for Miami.
42:38Right here, Donovan Mitchell can knock down the three.
42:41But we talk about a three-level scorer getting into the paint, forcing the defense to collapse.
42:47And if you don't bring help because you're scared of the three-point shot that the Cavs have,
42:52then Donovan Mitchell is going to live with that all night.
42:54You see on the side, Sparrow.
42:56You see on the side, most points per game in game ones.
43:00Donovan Mitchell's in that company.
43:02Just wild.
43:03Let me see what he's done.
43:04Seventh time in the playoffs for Mitchell.
43:07He's never gone past the second round.
43:09And obviously now the pressure ratchets up way higher with what they did this year.
43:14You've got your target on your back.
43:15Right now, Candace is the one seed.
43:18And as Mitchell navigated with this group, low forceful puts his hard hat on underneath.
43:26And the way Donovan Mitchell has done that in year eight of his career is realizing that
43:30sometimes it's not about putting the ball in the basket more.
43:33It's about empowering your teammates and playing for defense at that.
43:40Spider Mitchell unleashed.
43:46And Cleveland's got a lead of a half dozen.
43:49Defense!
43:50Defense!
43:50Defense!
43:51Defense!
43:52Defense!
43:5212-4 Cavaliers run.
43:56And as we move on to two minutes left, Wiggins taking contact.
44:00And Wiggins being healthy and being more aggressive.
44:04It's not a third option, Eric Trichester said.
44:06Ty Jerome bangs in a three.
44:11So Cleveland a little bit of a dry spell with the Heat making that early run, but they have
44:17ignited again offensively.
44:20A lot of fire trying to draw that contact down low.
44:23Short Mitchell into the corner to Robinson.
44:28Look at the defense from Jerome.
44:29Hey, nice catch, bro.
44:33Thank you, thank you.
44:34Nice catch.
44:35Please, please, all the applause.
44:39Right here, Donovan Mitchell denying Mitchell on Mitchell crime.
44:45The ball back.
44:46Slamming it home.
44:47The Cavs, I know they're known for their offensive historical season.
44:51Second all-time in offensive efficiency in the history.
44:53Yes, the history of the NBA.
44:55But they have defended all year.
44:59And they've hung their hats on defense.
45:02Getting a lot of contribution from their front court.
45:04But their guards are locking up as well.
45:08Robinson trying to find some day late.
45:09How to buy a resets.
45:11This is Mitchell in the corner.
45:13Well short fight for it underneath.
45:16And it looks like it's last touched by Miami.
45:19And this right here.
45:23Oh, you guys, that's a bad angle.
45:25I wasn't scared of the ball.
45:27I wasn't scared of the ball.
45:29Spiro got the steal, though.
45:30You got the steal.
45:31That was the highlight of my career right there.
45:33Thank you, Kansas.
45:35Final 33 seconds of the quarter.
45:38Mitchell for the contact.
45:39He's got it all working right now for Cleveland.
45:41Looks like it will not be a shooting foul.
45:44With Miami having one to give in the final two minutes here.
45:4831.7 left.
45:49Let's bring in 3-D.
45:53A can that you talk about, Davion Mitchell and the Hawk Series.
45:56His nickname, Off Night from college.
45:58You saw what he did to get the Trey Young.
46:00Excuse me.
46:01Let's see what he can do with Donald Mitchell, who's off to a great start in his game.
46:05Remember, he was the National Defensive Player of the Year on Baylor's National Title Team at 21.
46:10Everyone knows this young man can defend.
46:12And coming over in that Jimmy Butler trade, spent some time in Sacramento, ended up in Toronto.
46:20But if you talk about heat culture and you talk about players that just fit, Davion Mitchell just looks like he should have always been destined to wear a heat jersey.
46:29And about a three-second, two-and-a-half-second difference shot clock game clock.
46:35Mitchell defending Davion Mitchell, and he creates a turnover.
46:43And 3-D said Davion Mitchell's nickname is Off Night.
46:48Will Spider prove it right here that he can lock up as well, using his hands?
46:56Carter taking that next step, becoming a champion, playing at both ends of the floor.
47:00One second.
47:02Mitchell deep in the corner.
47:04And that's going to get us to the end of the quarter.
47:06But Cleveland's defense, they hold Miami to one basket in nearly the final six minutes of that quarter.
47:14The NBA on TNT is brought to you by the Kia Telluride X-Line.
47:20Kia, official automotive partner of the NBA.
47:26John TNT is presented by NerdWallet.
47:29As we welcome you back to downtown Cleveland.
47:32Time now to fight for victory.
47:33Presented by Modelo.
47:35We mentioned Eric Spoelstra's incredible postseason prowess.
47:38What a career it's been.
47:3917 seasons.
47:4114th trip to the playoffs.
47:43And a couple of seconds ago, he was hanging out with Ennis.
47:52All right, guys, Spoel, what's disappointing you the most?
47:54The lack of detail on certain plays or the turnovers?
47:57Probably handling their pressure.
47:58You know, we just have to be strong with the ball, get to better spacing.
48:02We'll settle in.
48:03We'll be a lot better with that.
48:04Mowgli, pick and roll.
48:05The Mowgli, post-hug, which ones bother you the most?
48:07You know, this team can score, but I think if we cut our turnovers down, we're where we need to be.
48:13Appreciate you.
48:14All right, thanks.
48:15All right, Dennis, great stuff.
48:16This is Isaac O'Coro misses badly from the corner.
48:20Looks like it may have been kicked by Hero.
48:21Loose ball, Jerome.
48:23He will fire and hits.
48:25That's a long two.
48:27So, Candace, the turnover issues you heard Sposter with Dennis, but they are hitting the three-pointers so far.
48:32What did you see in that first quarter?
48:34Well, in order for Miami to stay in this game, you do have to be able to knock down the three.
48:39I mean, the Cavs, the top in the league in three-point shooting.
48:44But, again, you cannot allow them to get on the three.
48:47They like to play fast, and a turnover just ignites their offense.
48:52I believe so is number 45, Donovan Mitchell.
48:56Officials are going to get Donovan Mitchell on the contact.
49:00That'll be his first.
49:02We're just over a minute gone by in the second quarter.
49:04You mentioned that long losing streak.
49:06The Jimmy Butler deal, remember, the first couple of days in February, and then early March, March the 5th,
49:11they lost 10 straight games, a skid that actually started here, Candace, in Cleveland.
49:17But there were a lot of close games during that stretch.
49:20Jarek Spoelstra said it was kind of a blessing in disguise, really got the focus of the team,
49:26a lot of hard conversations that they've had, and obviously they have put it all together here
49:30with some of the new pieces, Wiggins, and obviously the emergence of Davion Mitchell.
49:35I think Hero and Bam Adebayo have a lot to do with that.
49:38Some of the faces of the franchise, a lot of that falls on you,
49:41and them not allowing the team to fall apart.
49:43They have had 17 losses since All-Star in five single digits,
49:48so a lot of that is just staying with it, making minor tweaks,
49:51but it makes you better because you do have to clean up the things
49:55that are going to come back to bite you in the playoffs.
49:58Four-point game.
49:59This is Jerome spanking up to the beat.
50:02Offensive rebound.
50:03Merrill, smallest guy on the floor at the moment for the Cavs.
50:07O'Coro out of Mobley on a flash.
50:10The spin left it short.
50:13Look at O'Coro getting his hands dirty.
50:16Ripped away there by Highsmith Mobley.
50:21Wild sequence.
50:23Merrill!
50:26If O'Coro is going to miss Mitchell,
50:29he must have known three is more than two.
50:32Mitchell had an oop there, but Merrill knocking it down from beyond the arc.
50:37Fifty-year in the lead from Merrill.
50:40A guy who's 37% from the three-point line this season.
50:45Becoming a key piece.
50:47Right here.
50:49See the Heat can't get to the loose ball.
50:52Mobley doing a great job.
50:54And then misses Mitchell on the oop,
50:56but Merrill says three is more than two.
51:01You mentioned earlier, and it is worth repeating,
51:04second-most efficient offense that Cleveland put together this season in the history of the NBA.
51:12The score stands for the footballers, 37.
51:15Ryan in game 29.
51:16So they did just change the Ty Jerome shot from a two to a three,
51:25so that's just the score.
51:27And it's an eight-point lead for Cleveland.
51:29As the officials got that thing all sorted out,
51:32and then here, contact whistled on the perimeter against Cleveland.
51:35It's against O'Coro.
51:37Right there.
51:37He gets him with the hold on Hero.
51:41Hero's been talking to the refs the last couple times down the court
51:45about the way the Cavs have been physical with him.
51:48But at the end of the day,
51:50I think the bam out of bio has got to be aggressive,
51:53and not just from the perimeter.
51:54The way you get your guards open, dribble handoffs, away screens,
51:58he's got to be active, especially in this half-court set.
52:01Hero's the fire with the shot clock down to three.
52:05Nice defensive sequence for Cleveland.
52:08Up the floor.
52:10Deflected.
52:11Last touched by the Cavs.
52:14And Miami's going to get it back.
52:16Second chance points starting to become a storyline in this game.
52:1910-0 in that category favoring Cleveland.
52:22Can the seven offensive rebounds for the Cavs.
52:24Yes, and a lot of that was Jared Allen.
52:26Jared Allen out.
52:28Cavs turning the ball over.
52:29Last couple possessions.
52:32They're playing fast in the playoffs,
52:34and they're still playing fast with opportunity.
52:37Mitchell.
52:39The crossover maneuver goes down to the deck,
52:42and he's kind of clutching at that left ankle.
52:43That's the one that he tweaked late in the regular season.
52:47Looks like he's grimacing his way back,
52:49and then the floater beautifully done by Highsmith on the baseline.
52:53Miami Heat hanging around.
52:55It's a six-point game as we come up on the nine-minute mark left in the half.
52:59And if you're a Cavs fan, you're holding your breath.
53:01You need Spider Mitchell out there.
53:04As Jerome knocks down the nice floater,
53:06he's still visibly limping.
53:08Back on defense, didn't cross.
53:10Really, three-point line on that last offensive possession.
53:13And it wasn't a significant ankle injury as O'Koro just swallows up Hero.
53:20They sat Mitchell almost as a precautionary measure those final five games,
53:25but a little bit of an awkward landing.
53:27Candice right there kind of jammed up that ankle.
53:30As Ty Jerome, Merrill Sitt, Dean Wade has checked in now first time tonight for Cleveland.
53:40And Max Scrooge back on the floor as well.
53:42That's a good sign.
53:43Donovan Mitchell is still on the floor.
53:46Davion Mitchell, that's a three.
53:48Big shot for Miami.
53:52Davion Mitchell's got five points.
53:56Eric Spolstra said, look, we've always had a lot of intense guys.
53:59He's intense, but there's an outwardness with his intensity that we needed as a crew.
54:05Half dozen for Struis.
54:07Struis knocks down the nice, off-the-screen three, but to your point, Eric Spolstra did not say enough.
54:16We have competitive players on our team.
54:18Wiggins, talk about Bam Adebayo, Tyler Hero, but Damian Mitchell brings that out-loud factor that every team needs.
54:28On the lob, devastating finish by Adebayo.
54:34That right there, you talk about the ball touching paint.
54:38Adebayo living in the paint is Mitchell taking on all comers, and he's got a chance at three.
54:50And listen, you don't average 29 in the postseason just taking jump shots.
54:58Donovan Mitchell doing a great job getting in the paint, and then again, Davion Mitchell on the other side throws it up.
55:02Bam Adebayo knows where to go get it.
55:05That right there is what Davion Mitchell brings to the heat.
55:10Dribble penetration, getting into the teeth of the defense, and then allowing your bigs to be free.
55:16Dennis, what do you got?
55:19Well, speaking of being great, Candice, I was lucky enough to win an ACC championship, but you got three of the big champions.
55:25When did you—oh, we're going to a timeout.
55:27We'll save that question until we come back and break.
55:30Dennis doing play-by-play, doing television teases tonight.
55:33I mean, just next-level stuff.
55:35High-intensity at this start, as expected.
55:40Cavaliers and the Heat.
55:41First-round coverage on TNT, presented by NerdWaller.
55:46Yep, just tell Siri.
55:49Show me the playoff basketball schedule.
55:51Desk on a 55-degree night, with the NBA playoffs hitting the southern shores of Lake Erie.
56:03This town abuzz with this team.
56:05Number one seed, first time for Cleveland since they won the NBA championship.
56:09That remarkable 2016 run here with Ron James.
56:14And right now holding an eye-point lead, Candice, over Miami.
56:17And you know, as a city, once you win one championship, you want to win another one.
56:22Everybody, including the players, it's championship or bust.
56:26The regular season they put together, you've got to think they've got a great shot.
56:32The style of play.
56:34You talk about points per game, historic offensively.
56:39The Cavs don't have many areas that they need growth in.
56:44They've just got to put it together in this postseason.
56:46Just an unbelievable turnaround.
56:4816-win improvement from the team that Atkinson inherited that won 47 games last year.
56:54Garland misses all glass.
56:56Again, didn't make any crazy roster changes.
56:59Just ran it back with pretty much the same group.
57:02And here they are after a 16-plus win season.
57:06Tough-loader in traffic that time with Mitchell.
57:09So, how did the Cavs fare here with Donovan Mitchell now on the bench?
57:15And Garland now taking the reins of this offense.
57:17Little two-man action.
57:18Setting up, Allen.
57:19And Allen doing a great job rolling head to the rim.
57:22We saw when Donovan Mitchell went to the bench in that first quarter.
57:26That's when Miami Heat went on a little bit of a run.
57:29So, let's see how this group can counter the production of Miami's bench as well.
57:36So, Cleveland now has its biggest lead of the half.
57:39Remember, they blew that 9-point first quarter lead quickly.
57:44But if we settle things down here, Wiggins, a lead shot.
57:47Not a great trip for the Heat.
57:49And we talk about Jared Allen's rim protection.
57:52Let's talk about his switchability.
57:53Being able to get on the perimeter.
57:55And guard a guard.
57:57Garland taking the reins on the offensive end.
58:02A little bit of this, a little bit of that.
58:05Getting to the basket.
58:06And then again, too far back where knocks down the three, puts the Cavs up 14.
58:19One of the bona fide stars in this league.
58:44Everything Mitchell has accomplished in his career.
58:47It seems like everything has led to this moment, this postseason with this team.
58:52As they take their first baby steps into what they hope Candace is going to be a deep, deep line through the NBA playoffs.
58:59Vince Farrell, as a leader of the team, Tyler Hero operates on yet again.
59:06Jared Allen, good defense, better offense by Hero.
59:09Made of work.
59:11You've seen the growth of Donovan Mitchell.
59:13And as a leader of a team that is vying and competing for a championship, you don't reinvent yourself in a postseason.
59:19You just become better versions of yourself as Struis knocks it down.
59:25Max Struis, 3 of 3 from the deep.
59:28Cleveland is an 8 of 16 from 3 as a team.
59:33Miami has been impressive from that three-point stripe as well.
59:36They turn it over.
59:37That's been the issue for the Heat so far.
59:39Just hopped on with us in their first half.
59:41Struis.
59:42A little bit too much.
59:44A rare fast break opportunity for Miami.
59:47Hero rips it back.
59:49What a finish.
59:49A thing of beauty.
59:50And Tyler Hero now has got 14 points.
59:53Tyler Hero having to work for every single basket.
59:574 of 9.
59:57From the feet.