- 2 days ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:21only ten games remain in the
00:23regular season for the heat the
00:25next two here in Cleveland
00:26tonight and Friday night the
00:28heat and cats did split a pair
00:30of November games in Miami Miami
00:32Heat basketball on FanDuel
00:33Sports Network is brought to you
00:35by Carnival Cruise Line Cavaliers
00:38have won four straight including
00:39last night against the Magic the
00:41Heat have dropped five in a row a
00:42streak they hope to stop tonight
00:44and we hope you enjoy every
00:45bouncing basket right along with
00:47us and hello Heat Nation welcome
00:49to Cleveland always great to have
00:50you with us and to be alongside the
00:52point guard John Crotty I'm Eric
00:54Reed and tonight the Heat start
00:55this road trip against a very good
00:57Cavaliers team that's won eight of
00:59their last eleven games and John
01:00last night they got 68 points from
01:02their starting backcourt in a 136
01:04131 win over the Magic yeah they're
01:06playing extremely well together James
01:08Harden the new addition has made the
01:10game easier for Donovan Mitchell
01:12Harden the 11-time All-Star at 26
01:15points last night on 8 of 16 shooting
01:17he was outstanding with his vision
01:19and his shot making four made threes
01:22had seven assists of setting up others
01:24really got to his isolation game being
01:27able to attack off the dribble and also
01:29draw fouls really again making things a
01:33little bit easier for this guy the
01:34seven-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell
01:36who's so dynamic 42 points his sixth 40
01:40point game of the year of more
01:43consistent as an outside threat and
01:45dominant and dynamic going to the
01:47basket Donovan Mitchell and the
01:49Cavs fourth in the East two and a half
01:50games behind both the Knicks and
01:52Celtics the heat now in 10th place
01:54same record as the Magic and Hornets
01:56the Magic have dropped six in a row the
01:58Hornets have won four straight and
02:00looking ahead to tonight number six
02:01Atlanta at the top seed Pistons and
02:04number seven Philadelphia at home
02:05against Chicago later tonight Toronto
02:07in LA to play against the Clippers
02:09let's shift gears and talk about the
02:12heat in this topsy-turvy important
02:14month of March it started with six
02:16straight wins that added to the seven
02:18game win streak but it's been followed
02:20up by five straight losses and John in
02:22this spell the defense has faltered
02:24yeah there's been some slippage on the
02:26defensive side and also rebounding the
02:29basketball we saw that against San
02:32Antonio in a big way Miami allowing a
02:34hundred and thirty six points and 60
02:36points in the paint 15 made threes they
02:39just didn't take anything away from
02:41the Spurs were able to get what they
02:43wanted both inside and outside they
02:46also out-rebounded Miami in a big way
02:48of 62 to 48 including 17 offensive
02:52rebounds Miami has got to do a better
02:54job being able to contain the ball and
02:56finish defensive possessions of with
02:58those defensive rebounds to take away
03:00easy scores Toyota Trend takes a look at
03:03the losing streak heat of the lad a
03:05hundred thirty points per game on 51
03:07percent shooting they've been outscored by
03:09nearly 14 a game out rebounded by 11 a
03:12game and for the first time in heat
03:13history they've allowed 120 or more in
03:16five consecutive games as for Andrew
03:19Wiggins he was the number one pick back
03:21in the 2014 draft by the Cavaliers but he
03:24never played in Cleveland he was
03:25traded to Minnesota then after missing
03:27the last eight games with a toe injury he
03:29returned on Monday against the Spurs
03:31quiet storm will be needed tonight for
03:33his offense intangibles and especially
03:35his defense but it was back in November
03:37when Wiggins delivered Miami a sudden
03:39victory against these Cavaliers
03:50tied at 138 heat ball with four tenths
03:53left Nico has the rock near side
03:56everybody's in motion
03:57and that one more miracle
04:12and that one more miracle
04:25We ask for one more miracle, we've got one more miracle.
04:35The Miami Heat are going to have to grab rebounds tonight.
04:40When you look at these last five games, yes the defense has got to be better,
04:44but let's get specific and talk about the rebounding.
04:46Miami's getting out rebounds by an average of 11 rebounds a game in these five losses.
04:51They are one of the top three defensive rebounding teams in the entire league,
04:56so they have got to be better.
04:58That's where possession has to start with, a defensive rebound.
05:05Let's look at the starting lineup tonight for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
05:10Donovan Mitchell, that guy right there, going to be starting alongside James Harden, Sam Merrill.
05:15Keon Owls getting the start, Dean Wade got hurt in the warm-ups, and Evan Lowe.
05:19So this group was on its second night of a back-to-back.
05:22They beat the Orlando Magic last night, and for the Miami Heat, that's right,
05:26welcome back to the first five, Norman Powell.
05:28He's going to adorn Davion Mitchell, Tyler Hero, Andrew Wiggins, and Bam out of file.
05:34Big responsibility for these five.
05:37130 points per game.
05:38That's what the Miami Heat are giving up defensively.
05:40Got to stop that tonight in a very high-potent offense.
05:42Certainly going to test it.
05:44Let's get this one tipped off.
05:45Go upstairs to Eric Crotty.
05:46Thank you, Amy.
05:48Welcome, Heat Nation, to Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland.
05:51Interesting, Pella Larson has started 29 consecutive games for the Heat.
05:56The Heat are 3-3 with its lineup.
05:58First time the Cavaliers use the lineup they go with.
06:01And we are underway in Cleveland.
06:03Off we go on another Miami Heat NBA adventure.
06:06Our officials are Courtney Kirkland, Kevin Cutler, and Matt Calio.
06:10And John, to say the least, with ten games left in the Heat sitting in tenth place right now.
06:15A crucial game, not only to stop the five-game losing streak, but to get back on track and improve
06:20their position.
06:21Just to get some rhythm going right here in a positive way.
06:24It doesn't matter what the combination is.
06:26Coach Foe right now trying to put what he feels like is the best lineup he can out there
06:31with a couple of strong offensive players and Norman and Tyler together.
06:35How about that?
06:35A steal by Davion Mitchell.
06:37Took it away from Donovan Mitchell and cashed in.
06:40Defense leading the offense for Davion.
06:43By Davion Mitchell starting the night defending James Harden.
06:46Andrew Wiggins will be responsible for defending Donovan Mitchell, who had 42 last night.
06:52This is a very good three-point shooter, Sam Merrill out of Utah State.
06:57This is Keyon Ellis, the former Sacramento King, making his eighth start this season.
07:02That one's off, and the rebound tipped out of bounds by the Cavaliers.
07:06The Cavaliers tonight missing Jared Allen.
07:08And they're starting center.
07:09Max Struess, Craig Porter Jr., and Jalen Tyson.
07:13They're all out with injuries.
07:15For Miami, fully healthy.
07:17They're just the seventh time this season.
07:21Davion against Donovan.
07:24There's Pam working against Evan Mobley.
07:27Good footwork, and good defense by Mobley.
07:31John Lee, the Cavaliers are different and not quite as good without Jared Allen alongside Mobley.
07:35Yeah, I mean, look, you're taking out one of the top grip protectors as a shot blocker,
07:39and a high percentage dive and finish around the basket guy, Jared Allen.
07:44He shoots at 64% from the field.
07:47He's played at a very high level with James Harden.
07:51They're eating one when they play together.
07:52He's missed the last nine games with an E-issue, Jared Allen.
07:56So they can't wait to get that young man back.
07:59Keyon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder coming over in a February trade with the Sacramento Kings.
08:05The lob inside to Mobley.
08:07He got a size advantage but did not use it.
08:10Merrill, miss it.
08:12And Van clears the glass for the Heat.
08:16Got to buy on a red-hot streak playing some of the best basketball,
08:20maybe the best of his nine-year career.
08:22Powell for three.
08:24Kaboom.
08:25The woman Powell, you know, he said he doesn't mind coming off the bench,
08:28but you know Powell would rather start, John.
08:31That's how he earned his first All-Star bid this year in his 11th season.
08:34He's a prideful guy.
08:35He's played so well for Miami, and he's led them.
08:39He's got more made threes than anybody on the team as he knocks one down.
08:43And a second steal for Davion to the third straight game,
08:46and he's done in the first two minutes.
08:48Hero.
08:49So a good closeout by Merrill to take away the field.
08:53Bam from downtown.
08:55And it's taken down by Mobley.
08:58He's scoring the first five points of the game.
09:01First of two in a row here in Cleveland.
09:04Harden missing the three.
09:05And the rebound comes down to Wiggins.
09:08Cavaliers have missed their first three shots in this game.
09:11Wiggins on the spin.
09:13And here comes James Harden.
09:15Another February acquisition in exchange for Darius Garland.
09:19Oh, Davion Mitchell.
09:20Johnny almost came up with his third steal in the first three minutes.
09:24It was a three on two, and Davion played between Harden and Keyon Ellis,
09:28and just picks this right away from Ellis to take away a sure lap.
09:33That's excellent defense by Davion.
09:35Now both coaches talking to their teams in the last day or two about,
09:40you've got to play better defense to win meaningful games in this league.
09:43That was Kenny Atkinson's message to his team,
09:45calling the 136-131 win last night against the Magic.
09:49For the missed fight, Donovan Mitchell makes the Cavaliers 0 for their first five.
09:57Here's here against Donovan Mitchell.
10:00Wiggins from deep.
10:02Kaboom.
10:03Andrew Wiggins with the Heat's second triple of the quarter,
10:06and Miami off to an 8-0 start.
10:13Played just a little over two minutes.
10:16Here's Donovan Mitchell working against Wiggins.
10:18Loves the mid-range pull-up, and you understand why when you watch this ninth-year pro
10:23at a Louisville play, he's averaging 28 points per game this season.
10:26Coming off a 42-point effort last night.
10:30Just tremendous production by him.
10:33A 14-22 shooting was able to knock down multiple three-point shots.
10:39He made three, got to the free throw line, a perfect 11 for 11.
10:43The guy is so hard to contain one-on-one with his ability to score at all three levels
10:48and do so in such an athletic fashion.
10:51Shooting a career-high 48% this year, his ninth season in the association.
10:55Bam from the corner.
10:57That's a missed three, and it's pulled down by Donovan Mitchell.
11:01Bam is missing his first four shots tonight.
11:03Three have been triples, and another steal.
11:05This one from Bam.
11:06Took it from Harden, and then put it down as Harden was left in a seated position to just observe
11:12it.
11:13Oh, Miami in front, 10-2.
11:16How about that, John?
11:17Three early steals for the Heat defense.
11:19Yeah, coming out really flat, the Cavaliers after a nice win against the Magic.
11:24Off to a very forced start.
11:26Love the energy right now, particularly on the defensive side by Miami.
11:30Mobley crashed into Wiggins before he caught the ball.
11:33Now he'll try to work against Andrew.
11:35And this could be a blocking foul on Wiggins, his first.
11:38And the second-team foul on a tenacious Miami defense.
11:42The captain right here getting right up on point guard James Harden.
11:45This is what makes him a defensive player of the year, Kennedy.
11:49He can guard one through five, able to press up, make a steal, and then get out transition.
11:54By the way, patch me through to the official scope.
11:56Okay, they just gave you a steal.
11:58I'll say, patch me through to the official stat keeper.
12:00You've got to give Bam a steal on that, and then finally do it.
12:03Donovan Mitchell against Normandine.
12:06Here's now.
12:08And that bounces off to the waiting hands of Bam.
12:11Need a hit by eight.
12:13Cavaliers just won for their first seven.
12:15Tyler loads up.
12:17That one's short.
12:19Mobley brings it down for the Cavs.
12:21Evan Mobley, the fifth-year center out of the University of Southern California.
12:25He's a San Diego kid.
12:27A laid-back personality but becoming more of a young leader.
12:31Donovan Mitchell missed it, gets it right back.
12:34Can't give him two tries.
12:36That's his second score.
12:38Mitchell with all four of Cleveland schools.
12:44Harden defending Powell.
12:45They were teammates with the Clippers.
12:47And he triples right in his face.
12:50Norman Powell with two first-quarter triples.
12:53The Heat from downtown.
12:54They've dialed the right number three times in seven tries.
12:58And a timeout for Cleveland after a good takeoff by the Heat.
13:04Angelia and Lisa Hallmark.
13:07Excellent work.
13:08Norman Powell going right at James Harden here.
13:10Quick pull-up.
13:12Second triple going down in the Heat with a 13-4.
13:16Performances have started this game very well.
13:18Yeah, a couple active steals early.
13:21Davion with a couple.
13:22Bam with one.
13:23Moving their feet.
13:25Really active hands.
13:26They've been able to translate those turnovers into scores to make it easier on their offense.
13:33Love the disposition Miami's come out with on the defensive end.
13:36Much needed during this five-game losing streak.
13:41Miami has allowed 120-plus points, five straight.
13:44That's never happened in the history of the franchise.
13:47Giving up that many points over that many games.
13:50So Miami wants to change that script.
13:52Dennis Schroeder comes in for Cleveland.
13:54Donovan Mitchell to the bench early for the Cavaliers.
13:57They trail the Heat 13-4.
14:00636 remaining in the very first quarter of this one.
14:05James Harden.
14:06Back to Merrill.
14:08Too good a look for him.
14:09Sam Merrill, one of the feared three-point shooters in the NBA.
14:13He's got 146 triples on 44%.
14:16That's the fifth-best three-point percentage in the league.
14:20Hero against Keyon Ellis.
14:26Side clear through time.
14:29Good defense by Ellis.
14:31He has Hero bottled up.
14:32Wow.
14:33Dominating defensive segment from Keyon Ellis.
14:37And the Cavaliers obliged with the Mobley boot out of bounds.
14:41Johnny, he got to get back to moving the ball.
14:44Yeah, really.
14:46So important to have the spacing and to be able to take advantage.
14:54Naquan Tomlin, second-year man out of Memphis, undrafted by the way.
14:58After a couple of junior college students, number 35 in white, that's Naquan Tomlin.
15:03Got all kind of size to match up with here.
15:05That's an interesting substitution.
15:08Someone I did not anticipate.
15:10I think they're trying to put some length on Tyler out there on the perimeter.
15:14Heat on the shot clock.
15:16Hero a corner three.
15:17Got it!
15:18He drilled a rainbow three from that left baseline.
15:21And for the Heat, their fourth triple of a quarter.
15:24They're off to a 16-7 lead.
15:26That's one way to counter when they put a taller defender on.
15:29You just keep moving.
15:31And Tyler able to shake that young fella Tomlin to get the open three by moving to the corner and
15:37relocating.
15:38Successful double team on Mobley.
15:39Two small guys made him get rid of the ball.
15:41Three on the shot clock for Hart.
15:43Now it's Ellis with one the shoot.
15:46Oh my.
15:47They got Davion Mitchell for a foul.
15:49With four tenths of a second left in the possession.
15:53Oh that hurts.
15:54Such a good defensive possession up until this closeout right there.
16:00Shooting three shots.
16:02Deion.
16:03Great.
16:03And the shot clock about to expire there.
16:06Davion moves.
16:07Oh he made a mistake.
16:09Three shots here coming up for Ellis.
16:10John you go back a long way with Kenny Atkinson.
16:13You guys played against each other as college players.
16:16Kenny was at the University of Richmond.
16:18John of course at Virginia.
16:20Kenny Atkinson last night after the game.
16:22A 1 36 1 31 win over Orlando.
16:26Almost the first words out of his mouth at the press conference were.
16:29If we're going to play defense like this.
16:31We're going to have a short playoff stint.
16:33Yeah he was really adamant about that.
16:35And a little press conference before the game too.
16:38He again reiterated that.
16:41And really trying to make that effort.
16:42And look he said look I know.
16:45We're missing Jared Allen.
16:46Jared Allen is one of the best shot blockers in the league.
16:49You know he's elite in that area.
16:52Almost two blocks a game.
16:54And they're missing him right now through that knee injury.
16:57But you know positionally he wants to see them improve.
16:59He wants to see accountability on that side of the floor.
17:02He thought that there's some miscommunications that have to be addressed.
17:06And yeah that's what good coaches do.
17:08They really hold the best players accountable.
17:11And it makes a difference.
17:12You know one member of the media in Cleveland question Atkinson.
17:16Why he went public with the private comments he made to his team in the locker room right after the
17:20game.
17:21And his response was telling me who Kenny Atkinson is.
17:24His hockey house misses the three.
17:26Atkinson says listen I lay it on the table.
17:28You've got to be authentic.
17:29And call it like you see it.
17:30And I wanted to send a clean and clear message to our team about our defense.
17:35He said we're capable of it.
17:36But it's time to turn up the mentality on the defensive end.
17:40And Coach Spoh echoed the same thing John.
17:41He said teams that win commit to defense.
17:44And you don't go far in the playoffs without that commitment to defense.
17:49Right now it's a six point heat lead with 440 left in the opening quarters.
17:53Harden drills a triple.
17:55So old and still so good.
17:58The 11 time All-Star now in his 17th season.
18:04Here comes Powell.
18:05Off to Mitchell.
18:06He misses the corner three.
18:08Dennis Schroeder the veteran with a rebound.
18:10Heat lead which was nine has been cut to three.
18:15Schroeder gonna get by Powell.
18:18Oh the miss by Naquan Tomlin.
18:21And here come the Heat.
18:22Fan with Mobley in the back battle.
18:26Jaime Jaquez Jr.
18:28Bumping with Tomlin to draw the foul.
18:32First on Naquan.
18:35Second team foul on Khalifa.
18:37Second.
18:39Killell Ware comes in for the first time.
18:41Then I damn to the bench.
18:43Thomas Bryant former heater.
18:45And and Donovan Mitchell back into the game for Cleveland.
18:48Mobley and Keyon Ellis sit down.
18:52So Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
18:55John May they quite Harden and Mitchell with the 68 points between them last night.
19:00An emerging backcourt power in the East.
19:06It was back on the 4th of February the Cavs acquired Harden for Darius Garland and a future second round
19:12pick in the deal with the Clippers.
19:14They've got 14 and 4 since Harden has joined them John.
19:18And it's been almost a seamless transition for Harden coming to Cleveland.
19:22Yeah it really has been.
19:23You know what they've done record wise speaks for.
19:25But I think he's really adjusted well.
19:28I actually asked Kenny Atkinson about that.
19:31And he said you know he's done more to adjust to the team.
19:35Versus saying hey look you gotta change your game to fit mine.
19:40He said look overall we've definitely slowed down our pace a bit.
19:44That's happened.
19:44He said there's definitely been more isolation scenarios.
19:48He said but as a staff we realized we gotta take advantage of James Harden's skill set.
19:53And that's what Harden does.
19:54He plays pick and roll.
19:55He isolates one on one.
19:57And they're playing at a very high level.
20:00From an offensive rating perspective they're even better than they were prior to him coming.
20:05Cavaliers are his sixth team.
20:07Oklahoma City, Houston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia.
20:09The Clippers for the last three years.
20:12And has accomplished a score as he is.
20:15And has been three times leading the league in scoring.
20:18Kenny Atkinson said he's been blown away by Harden's special ability as a passer.
20:24The game is a one point game now.
20:27Harden with five points for Cleveland.
20:30Larson against Tomlin.
20:31Sets up Kalil from the corner.
20:34Kaboom.
20:35And the threes have been missing lately for Kalil.
20:37You realize the last eight games he had made just four of his last 29 triples.
20:43The good shooters keep on taking good shots.
20:48Here's Bryant pick and pop from the wind.
20:51And we're down with a rebound.
20:54He'd already with five trays here in the first quarter.
20:58Five of twelve.
20:59Larson Paul for traveling on the spenders.
21:01And ball!
21:05You know the position the Heat are in right now.
21:07Tenth place in the East.
21:09With the same record as the two teams right ahead of them.
21:12Charlotte and Orlando.
21:13The Heat did beat Charlotte three out of four.
21:15They lost all five games this year to the Magic.
21:18And all three of those teams just a game behind the 76ers.
21:22Sixers hosting the Bulls right now.
21:24And the night they got both Paul George and Joel Embiid back in their line.
21:29Maxi's still missing.
21:31Bryant missing.
21:32And the rebound to Hawkins.
21:35Four point Heat lead.
21:38Powell draws the foul on Schroeder before the game.
21:42The Schroeder's first.
21:44Gives us a break in the action with 2.43 left in the opening frame.
21:50This guy is great and it's raining threes early on for the Miami Heat here at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
21:55Five for twelve from long range of the sixteen attempts that the Miami Heat have taken early in this first
22:01quarter.
22:02Twelve of them have been from long range.
22:04It's clearly part of the game plan.
22:06You like that it's balanced.
22:07Norm hitting a couple.
22:08Kalel, Tyler.
22:09All guys involved.
22:10The Cleveland Cavaliers give up 46 paint points a game.
22:14They are very good at protecting the paint.
22:16Which means there might be some opportunity to hit.
22:19The adjustment is going to be to watch right now.
22:22Does Cleveland extend their defense?
22:24Does the paint open up?
22:25This is the chess match you love between two very good basketball clubs, Eric.
22:30Miami, they played two very entertaining games back in November on the 10th and 12th of that month.
22:36The 140 to 138 victory for Miami.
22:39Most points they ever scored against Cleveland.
22:41And then the 130-116 Cavaliers win just two nights later when Cleveland outscored the Heat in the fourth quarter
22:47of that game.
22:4837 to 19.
22:49That was a night Jared Allen at 30 points and 10 rebounds.
22:53Roman Powell, the Heat's leading scorer in their win against Cleveland with 33 a night.
22:58He got to the free throw line 14 times.
23:01Here's Larson launching and missing.
23:03And the rebound comes down to Dennis Schroeder.
23:06Got 226 left in the opening quarter.
23:09The Heat up by four.
23:11Martin has not come out yet.
23:14The 17-year veteran, 36 years old.
23:17Look at a three-second violation.
23:19Whistled against Thomas Bryan under the basket.
23:22Well, check it.
23:22It's an offensive foul on Bryan.
23:24Physical inside there on Cologne Ware.
23:27Thomas Bryan is picking up that foul.
23:31There comes Hawkins.
23:35Hero from deep.
23:37Kaboom.
23:38Couple of triples for Tyler here in the first group.
23:41Well, Miami now.
23:42Six of 14 from three.
23:44And off to a 22-15 lose.
23:47That's a kick coming Heat, but Miami reacting well, John.
23:51They're a step quick to them.
23:53Yeah, they are.
23:53And both ends of the floor defensively setting the tone.
23:57Six of 14 right now from three.
23:58Couple from Norman Powell.
24:01Couple from Tyler Hero.
24:02And that really should help set up some of the drive game.
24:05As the game proceeds along here, there'll be more space for them to operate.
24:10Under two minutes left, first quarter.
24:12Schroeder on the attack.
24:14Larson with the block.
24:15Ware with the recovery.
24:16And here comes Kaz Yacuchonis, the rookie.
24:19Still only 19 years old.
24:21What a year of great growth on the NBA level for Kaz Yacuchonis.
24:27Haquez launching.
24:30Rebound comes down on Thomas Bryant and the Cavaliers.
24:33Trying to push Temple just a little bit there.
24:36They're a more deliberate team than Miami by nation.
24:39Especially since Harden joined the team.
24:42Pick and roll with Bryant.
24:44Larson sticking with Harden.
24:50The isolation game is so good.
24:53Matter of fact, in Harden for them and Powell for the Heat.
24:57Those are the two players most often fouled shooting a three this season.
25:01Harden's drawn 50 fouls shooting a three.
25:04Rowan Powell's been fouled 27 occasions while shooting a three.
25:09He really can beat you into reaching and using your hands and drawing fouls.
25:14James Harden gets himself to the free throw line here as the Heat are in the bones.
25:19Yes, Yacuchonis with his first foul.
25:21James Harden making the first of two.
25:23So 11 times an All-Star.
25:26First team All-NBA six times.
25:28The man who has made over 200 triples in seven different seasons.
25:33John.
25:35Hall of Fame probability 100%.
25:40And that's not according to me.
25:41That is according to basketball refs.
25:45Seven points for Harden.
25:46And a five point lead for Myers.
25:49With a minute eight left in the first.
25:51Larson powers it up in.
25:53Draws the foul as well.
25:54Wow.
25:54That was a really physical attack inside.
25:58Using that left shoulder.
26:00Pella coming right in.
26:01So seamless as he enters the game.
26:04Using that shoulder on Tomlin there.
26:07And his second season just wore him down.
26:10As a shorter guy shooting over 6-10.
26:13No problem as he knocks him off the spot.
26:15And one opportunity coming up here for Pella.
26:18Naquan Tomlin committing his second foul.
26:20Three point play.
26:21For the second year man Pella Larson.
26:23A very mature second year play.
26:26He's 25 years old.
26:28This is Miami's first free throw at this game.
26:31He's ahead by eight.
26:33And right now the 2-3 zone showing his teeth.
26:37Harden misses the three.
26:39Kahlil clears it.
26:40Now the Heat so often go to their changeup pitch defensively.
26:43That's the 2-3 zone.
26:45Eric Spolster calls his man-to-man.
26:47His fastball.
26:48Oh, that's the second turnover.
26:50That Tyler Hero has been forced into in this quarter.
26:57He was three turnovers to Cleveland's five.
27:03And right now the Heat's switching.
27:07Go from zone to a switching man-to-man.
27:11Tomlin underneath.
27:12Oh, he rolled it in on Kahlil Ware.
27:14Good quick move by the 25-year-old Naquan Thomas.
27:19Tomlin, excuse me.
27:2116 seconds left in the pool
27:29I guess
27:31back to time
27:33left him free
27:35Come on. Oh
27:36Unaffected by the defense coming at it doesn't even
27:41Flinch a shooter came out on the closeout third triple for Tyler Tyler here a three of four from downtown
27:48The heat overall in the quarter goes seven for 16 from three-point land
27:54Balance and firepower for Miami to one quarter here at rocket arena in Cleveland
28:07You're shopping now he nations
28:09I
28:11Read karate and Amy on a bird with you from rocket arena in Cleveland and heat nation Cleveland chapter always
28:20well represented
28:21John the heat defense holding Cleveland a 28 percent shooting in the first quarter and Tyler hero with his fourth
28:28Quarter of the season with three triples in if forcing five turnovers to against this Cleveland team great start defensively
28:36for Miami
28:37They've really contested shots they've been really solid starting off here full-court pressure falling back into a two-three
28:44zone
28:44Merrill arced it in over where and scored five points for Sam Merrill by the way the Cavaliers had strung
28:51together
28:51Seven straight first quarters with 30 points or more. He'd hold them to 19 in the first tonight
28:58Good start. That's all it is, but you'll take and try to build up
29:03Marson triple and traffic
29:09Well when the ball has stuck the heat have found themselves some trouble for heat turn
29:17He closed the first quarter with a 12 to 4 run
29:22Right now it's a seven-point lead and the heat in that two three zone Donovan Mitchell miss fire and
29:29where gets the deflected rebound
29:32Now could show us the trailer is go on
29:36Show some judgment. There's some good judgment
29:40Minute into the second quarter
29:43I guess we're gonna go on Mary with seven on the shot
29:49The catapult kaboom
29:52Go well where he is tripled twice in this first half and Miami lighting it up from downtown right now
29:59Eight of seventeen from three to open the game a ten-point heat lead their biggest so far tonight
30:07And he's still in that two three zone there with this
30:11Unit is they're gonna play a lot of zones
30:13Schroeder able to start to the middle and that soft spot of the zone catch and finish from about eight
30:18feet here on a step back
30:20baseline beauty
30:21Tyler here that's a turn down
30:23Don't need John 11 quick points for time
30:26Yeah, he looks it's like he's just bouncy out there right now got that jumper
30:31Completely dialed in on the second ten-point lead in a row from Miami in this quarter. That's a kick
30:36shot clock gets reset to 14
30:38And we check back in on a red-hot heat guard and Tyler hero off the dribble this time little
30:45step back action using that left hand
30:47Drilling a two-pointer there. He's made three triples and one two-point mid-range shot
30:53Those triples are really gonna allow him to set up his pull-up game or his drive game as the
30:59Cavs are flying at him
31:01Trying to contest him outside the arc hero with 11 points in his 11 minutes the 2-3 zone
31:06Stagnating Cleveland a little bit and the rebound in traffic to Kalil where?
31:11Oh, we're with four rebounds in his six minutes. Oh, the lob intended for Kalil was broken up by Brian
31:17hero bats it that way
31:19It comes back to hot kids for a triple. Oh, well, that's the way it's gone here in the first
31:23half for Miami
31:249 of 18 from downtown and a 13-point lead
31:29Favorable bounces care for Miami but active
31:32Donovan Mitchell comes back with a runner. He goes stay quiet for just so long. He's got six. I can't
31:38it's got found and school
31:41Down my Jaime highway here in Cleveland. It's it's it's a long high range. It's up to it
31:48It's a all over the continent that highway it's showing up in the Midwest right here left hand attack after
31:55the
31:55push-off gives it a go
31:58Good to have heighten a hot kids junior back
32:01After that injury he was out a couple games came back against San Antonio and had a nice practice yesterday
32:07coach Spoh was
32:08Pleasantly surprised how how well he has felt after the practice and the game so good to have him back
32:16He's been so important coming off the bench to get Miami look by the way Tomlin of Cleveland pick up
32:20his third foul in just eight minutes
32:22Brian didn't want to shoot very reluctant and the shots showed them and another rebound for where so he's got
32:28five boots off the
32:30Baby's bench
32:31Yeah, could shown us on the spin and I think it's gonna be make one Tomlin
32:38It is that Kenny Atkinson left him in with
32:42He's second big Tomlin really getting in minutes here with Fallon Tom
32:47Due to the Dean Wade injury Dean Wade injured in the middle of the warm-ups
32:51He's their normal starter as a big guy in a floor space or rolled an ankle and
32:57He'd have been able to attack this man and break him down. Let's pause for a message from Gulfstream Park
33:13Keon Ellis subbing in for Naquan Tomlin. There's Ellis
33:18Imagine getting traded for from Sacramento to Cleveland in the middle of this season Kings having one of the worst
33:23years in the NBA this season
33:25They're bottom in the West and Cleveland heading to the playoffs right now is the number four seed in the
33:31East
33:31It's just kind of shocking to me that they couldn't find minutes for Keon Ellis
33:35Who's a promising young player?
33:38How would they not be playing them at least out there in Sacramento to let them develop?
33:43Giancala we're rebounding up a storm leads to the Larson
33:48Opportunity and pellet turns it into two free throws with the heat ahead
33:5140 to 25
33:53Kenny Atkinson and half quarters is completely fired up there yelling at the official there were four Cleveland Cavaliers
34:02around
34:04Hello Larson here. He's the only black jersey ahead of the field. Look at this four jerseys. He goes up
34:10and draws that foul
34:13Impressive hustled by color John. I'm also impressed with the energy that the low wear has come into this game
34:19with
34:19He's turned it around with his rebound. He has six points and six rebounds in just seven minutes
34:25Wiggins in hot kills junior out
34:28John that's the time of year it is ten games left
34:30The postseason is riding on the outcome of these dead games and the heat playing like it has that kind
34:37of me
34:39Cavaliers taking a timeout Kenny Atkinson is still fired up
34:43But timeout with the heat in front by 16
34:48To the heat dancers women empowered all month long and every day of every month
34:55As far as we did crowd a concern we're supposed a couple of girl dance and very proud of it
35:00and happy for me
35:03846 left here in the second quarter and unhappy Kenny Atkinson huddle with his team
35:08John Miami up by 16 another free throw for Larson could have scripted a better beginning of this game for
35:14the heat
35:14Yeah, I love it and again start with the defense and it's flowing the energy so positive on the offensive
35:21end too
35:21As Miami continues to shoot the ball at a high clip 56 percent and holding the Cleveland Cavaliers are just
35:2932 percent shooting
35:32Yeah, it's been nearly perfect for the heat
35:35The miss by Ellis and another rebound for Kahlil Ware that's seven boards in seven minutes
35:42Wiggins fills it up a triple for Andrew Wiggins
35:45It's his second of the game the heater 10 out of 19 from three john 19 of their 26 shots
35:52tonight have been from downtown
35:54It's 45 to 25
35:59They're lost it, but true effect
36:04We came of this significance
36:07After losing five in a row that he's showing you your spirit their resilience and still putting a fight left
36:14Are they going to need all of that over these last 10 games?
36:19Well the foul on yaka chona is second to the game on the on the young man
36:22Cavaliers with two shots
36:24Each first team foul it is cool
36:27The 10 left six of them on the road the the next two are right here tonight and friday will
36:32be in indiana on sunday
36:35Come home to play these sixers and the celtics before heading right back out
36:40And by the way some interesting scores early in this evening at halftime in detroit
36:45The red hot hawks 73 and much pistons 55 and in halftime philadelphia with a 71 52 lead against chicago
36:55Ware goes to the bench
36:57Good stint for coil
37:02So it's 45 to 27 merrill getting one of the two free throws to try
37:09Just under eight minutes left in the head
37:13Larson on the drive past heart it's bad
37:17And the rebound knocked around winds up with wiggins
37:21Tyler hero back to the captain
37:24Wiggins off the bobble resets and finishes off glass
37:29Andrew wiggins eight points in the first half the heat again ahead by 20 winning the effort game for sure
37:36Winning those 50 50 balls miami the aggressor tonight
37:4120 point lead with 7 22 left in the half bryant against the zone this the jumper and the heat
37:48control the glass
37:50Cavaliers are eat for 27 from the field that's under 30 percent shooting
37:59And smothered by former heat backup center thomas bryant
38:03Hero but the step back that one missed off the hand of mobley saved by heart
38:12Cavaliers with 27 points on the board
38:14We got just under seven minutes left on the first half
38:18Merrill miss fires bam with the rebound
38:21Keep in mind cleveland the number four scoring team in the league this year at 119 again the heat number
38:27two at just over 120 again
38:30We got to show us
38:33Oh in and out bryant with a rebound
38:36About jake park right now
38:39One for three
38:41Slow start for for some big names
38:43Mitchell six points hardy with seven and jump bam out of bio
38:48Amits this flurry by his teammates right bam just two points on one of six shooting
38:53As jake chonis and hero go out
38:58Devion mitchell and norman powell come in jump for the first time
39:01Eric spoelstra has all of his depth and all of his versatility at his disposal
39:06I'd like to start by
39:08Hero and norman powell good to see them firing bam will come around for sure
39:13Mobley scooping for the score and he got bam right in the face
39:17Evan mobley's first not only his first points of the game
39:21Gang that was his first shot of the game pretty shocking he was perfect last night too
39:25A big production for him on eight of eight shooting and 19 points
39:31Against the magic a big reason why they're why they won last night bam was poked in the eye
39:36He is complaining to the officiating crew right now. How come that did not get pulled
39:45Take a look at the swipe by mobley
39:50With the elbow he got elbowed in the face the offhand they're just clearing bam out
39:57Mobley fortunate to get away with that
40:01He's winning the effort game with their hustle making plays on loose balls
40:07That are flying around and the quick tap to the corner gets hot kids junior the triple
40:12That is our shot of the night sponsored by the anger meister
40:17Man i'm ready to have a jagermeister shot after this right here
40:21This is a good start for miami
40:23Well, how about a couple chilled ones right now?
40:24I have a crowd he joining kenny atkinson guys just cut to the chase just being flat out on
40:31Sending a clear concise mess that's good stuff when it's properly chilled sure i'll join
40:38Miami in front by 18
40:41Just under six minutes left here in the first half that time mobley all over the back of bam
40:46Wondering right now did you get the license plate number of the car that just hit me?
40:50I mean i know the guys that defending defensive player of the year
40:54But you got to call a foul on him at some point by the way mobley has made 17 of
40:59his last 19 shots
41:00He's got an incredible 16 consecutive games shooting over 50 percent in that span he's shooting 61
41:09Over a 16 game stretch
41:11That's really good he's only 24 folks very good young play
41:16Damn coming up short so at a bio off to a slow start at one percent
41:21It's back on keyon ellis defensive
41:28Harden everywhere he goes there's a black shirt blue dude
41:34Harden ice open
41:37Coughed him up wiggins with the steal and there's nobody home
41:40Boy they have really done a number sealing the lanes on james hard and he's talking to the officials but
41:47Miami's staying down not biting on his ball fix
41:52Miami up by 20 again merrill a contested three that bounces away to bam out of bio
41:57Cavaliers two out of 14 from three and 30 percent overall
42:03Wiggins launches again and this one comes down to ellis to the caps
42:09Under five minutes to go in the half
42:18Harden
42:19This is mobley and a reach-in foul on norman powell that'll be mobley's second foul of the game beautiful
42:26defense on the prior possession
42:29Staying in front and ceiling james hard norman powell moving with him wiggins with the pick
42:35He's out and running with nobody back to defend two more fast break points for miami and
42:42Really quiet building right now is miami up by 20. It is quiet in here
42:52It's it's almost as if they're trying to listen into our telecast
42:57I love it
43:01Mobley missing the front end
43:05Cavaliers play the heat on friday and then go three straight on the road at utah los angeles against the
43:10lakers and golden state
43:13Heat after playing here again on friday night go to indiana for a 5 p.m. game on sunday
43:20Each game takes on extra significance when you get this late into the season
43:25Mobley missing both free throws so the heat lead sits at 20
43:33Davion working against proctor poked it free and db uh donovan mitchell with the school
43:44Donovan mitchell in the pain he's so good he's so good in this he's got eight points he averages 20
43:53He's first team all nba player last year and a seventh straight year an all-star this season
44:04Bam up top working against moby got tangled up and lofted up an air ball he's off his game right
44:11now here comes hard three on two breaks
44:14mitchell
44:15Good choice donovan mitchell now with 10 points yeah they've had numbers they're getting out
44:22In transition a rare defensive transition breakdown for miami they've been so good on the defensive end
44:29Harden coming up with with the assist is third tonight
44:33That's a norman powell buck
44:34A triple for norman if you're keeping score it's three times three for powell three triples in four temps just
44:42like tyler hero
44:44Well even 11 first half trains
44:47Keyon ellis on the knee back to mobley who got the bucket and the foul
44:53Evan mobley with all four of his points in this quarter picking it up the big man inside he's 6
44:5911
44:59he's just 215 pounds but
45:02So long and able to finish at a high percentage that when he goes to the basket 54 percent
45:10Shooter just over 18 points a game and nine rebounds but
45:14They love that he's a two-way player being able to block shots at just about two a game
45:21So bam out of by picking up his first foul sends mobley to the strike
45:27Mobley the number 12 redound in the league the number four shot blocker and when you team him alongside
45:33Former net jared allen who played early in his career for kenny atkinson in brooklyn they're pretty formidable
45:39frontcourt doing
45:41One of the things that makes cleveland a threat and then you got that backcourt that adds to it
45:47oh baby i'm calling five points for mitchell he joins the three-point party miami with 12 made threes tonight
45:58Mobley missing on the tip comes out to proctor tyree's proctor
46:05He'd ahead by 19 to 40 left in the hand mobley
46:10Trying to get somewhere against bam two to shoot
46:13That's a good defense by bam that's not what mobley wanted
46:19Powell from downtown cleveland
46:23And mobley well this time he gets called for climbing the back of andrew wiggins wiggins is really active
46:30creating all kinds of problems for the cavaliers scoring the basketball but just
46:36Finishing in the paint as a rebounder he's got four boards he's four seven from the field couple of triples
46:42and ten points
46:43Good to have andrew wiggins back after that toe injury yeah tonight the heat going with a rainbow coalition of
46:49three-point shooters
46:50Six different players have tripled oh that's pretty back shot
46:55norman powell to the paint he's got 11 points in the heat ahead by 21 this is miami's biggest lead
47:02of the game
47:06Keon ellis underneath he got a step on wiggins
47:12Keon ellis gets the bucket for them he's got five points we're under two minutes to go on the first
47:18half
47:23Flory is spread for Miami that paint wide open
47:28wiggins that's an airplane down at donovan mitch
47:35He's got a piece of keon ellis who's going to get the free throws
47:47He fell on number 22 wiggins picking up his second foul
47:53Keon ellis to the strike with the cavaliers trailing by 19
47:58So three shots for for keon ellis this is the second time he's gone to the line getting fouled in
48:04the act of
48:05Shooting a three and eric spolster is taking a timeout the heat are going to have a coach's channel
48:11He's going to have a coach's channel
48:20The ruling floor is a defensive foul
48:21Miami is challenging the ruling this play is now in the review
48:26That is the crew chief tonight courtney kirkland in his 26 years one of the premier officials in the nbs
48:33take a quick look at it did wiggins get him or not
48:38He didn't look like it on first blush we'll get some more angles
48:45Really tough to see there a little touch of the hand again if he got a piece of the ball
48:50at all he would be entitled to make contact with that
48:52And see here if we can get one more
49:03Oh chest attack that is so late though i mean the ball is a good one
49:10What an outside is in the corner of this contact wow
49:18Going to be an interesting review
49:22The key there as you go to challenge that shot john it you want to close get as close as
49:27you can
49:27But there comes a point where you got to jump up and not act right no he definitely makes look
49:32he makes contact and he jumps
49:34To your points that are going straight up
49:36towards the shooter he makes contact with the hand of the ball that clearly released i don't like this uh
49:46from miami's standpoint right now
49:48and while we await the the verdict let's pause for a word from honda
49:55see that brand new hyundai santa fe yeah i only paid
49:59finish this bucket on your own enjoy your new car you feel so right it almost feels wrong the hyundai
50:04getaway sales event
50:08so we still await the the ruling from courtney kirkland who's on the headsets with the nba
50:13replay center in secaucus new jersey beat ahead 57 to 38
50:33after review there is secondary action by the defensive player as he hits the hand of the shooter
50:38the ruling floor stands as a defensive foul it is an unsuccessful challenge miami will be charged
50:44a timeout and they have no challenges remaining they will resume with three free throws
50:50all right so ellis will get the three free throws after all
50:55for miami holding cleveland a 36 first half shooting two of 14 from downtown for cleveland
51:01miami 50 percent overall he'd have made 12 triples from six different players
51:07norman powell and tyler hero both have 11 points they also both have three main triples
51:14andrew wiggins with 10 points he's got two triples
51:18for cleveland donovan mitchell with 10. so far so good but it's a long game and
51:25he's gonna play four solid quarters to beat competitive motivated teams and cleveland is both of those
51:32right now the cavaliers fourth in the east seven and a half games behind the conference leading pistons
51:37other way they went they went two and two this year against detroit
51:41they're two and a half behind the celtics and nicks
51:43they lost all three games to boston they lost two of three against the nicks
51:49it'll be interesting to see how kenny atkinson team fares in the postseason
51:53last year they won 64 games they were the number one seed in the east the number two record
51:58in the nba and after humbling the heat the first round john they got knocked out by indiana in the
52:04next round in five games at the time it was stunning and then you realize how good indiana was as
52:10they
52:10went all the way to game seven of the nba five it's a fair point i think everyone was so
52:15surprised but indiana made
52:17such a run with their depth and the speed with which they played with this cleveland team
52:21a season ago was top in the eastern conference and really firing on all cylinders as they
52:29took us in the first round and looked like they were the team to beat
52:33though they were so strong in that first round that's going to be a foul
52:36donovan mitchell
52:38bashfully holding up his hand to admit he committed his first foul of the game
52:44he i don't know if you've noticed his left eye i saw it last night i was watching their game
52:49his left
52:49eye donovan mitchell's left eye if we can get a picture of it he got poked by evan mobley and
52:55it's
52:56it's really bloodshot it's amazing he can even see out of the eye
53:00he had a great game last night with 42 points but but donovan mitchell's got
53:06i would think his vision is somewhat impacted by by that shot he took in that left eye
53:13by the way now not to just totally sweep it under the rug last year the the cavalier sweep over
53:18miami by
53:19by over 30 points per game they averaged 126 points per game it was the worst playoff series in
53:25heat history and the heat want to get back into the postseason and get a better taste after last
53:32year's postseason experience mitchell missed it bam with a rebound in traffic i had to rush it a bit
53:37with bam coming over and somehow donovan misses that little bank shot davion blind drives a home run
53:45he's got two triples both in this quarter uh davion mitchell giving the heat a 61 41 lead love the
53:52transition game on the miami side just getting it down the floor beating cleveland's defense back down
53:58nine points for davion mitchell
54:03three-point shooting so good right now he 13 makes of 27 attempts for miami that's 48 percent
54:10here's the transition off the little bunny missed by donovan mitchell bam excellent outlet pass the pitch ahead
54:18and then a little kick back on a drive and push back spray option there with warm finding davion open
54:26beyond the arc respectful of what the captain is doing tonight struggling on offense but contributing
54:31with seven first half rebounds donovan mitchell he wanted the foul he'll settle for his first triple of the
54:39game by the way he's got 211 threes on the year that's eighth most in the nba like he was
54:45really
54:45just trying to draw a foul there wasn't even serious in that shot attempt but it goes 13 points for
54:51donovan mitchell bam sends it back out powell draws the foul that one on keon ellis before the shot
54:59for ellis this is first of tonight's game keon ellis floridian
55:07young man in his fourth season out of alabama wasn't drafted but four years in the league
55:14played 80 games this year for sacramento
55:17look at 22 seconds left in this first half a 61.5 of the heat on 51 percent shooting and
55:28the defense equally
55:29really impressive
55:34sam narrow back in for cleaver he will replace dennis shrewd
55:46powell and i with 12 points for nine
55:49on the season averages 22 he's still the number 22 score in the league this year
55:59really heat ahead by 19. under 20 seconds left on the head
56:11down to seven seconds hard nice lift nice pass into ellis mobley to ellis for the dunk
56:19high low action there against the zone bam in and out so tough first half comes to a close for
56:28bam out of
56:29the bayou shooting the ball just one for nine from the field on the first half but the heat as
56:34a team
56:34lights out shooting from downtown 13 first half trip 63 points on the board and a game of heat field
56:42they must win they are winning partner of the heat make time wait
56:51a very nice wednesday evening here in downtown cleveland temperature outside
56:5553 degrees weather tells us it feels like 46 but i'll tell you what it's very comfortable inside
57:03the rocket arena with heat up by 17 at the half only 10 games left including the night it's always
57:10great
57:10to share these nba adventures with you heat nation i'm eric reed with john karate we all just watched
57:16two quarters that went exceptionally well for my love what my
57:20love what my love is
Comments