The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a tough loss to the Miami Heat 122-113 in South Beach on Sunday night. Donovan Mitchell scored 12 points on 5-16 shooting, while Darius Garland had 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists. However, the Cavs’ efforts were hindered by injuries to two key players.
Evan Mobley, who had just finished a career-high 41-point performance against Charlotte, exited the game after 11 minutes due to a rolled ankle. This is concerning, as Mobley is arguably the Cavaliers’ second-best player. Fortunately, the team has a brief respite before their next game on Friday, which should allow Mobley to rest and recover.
Tyler Herro continued his strong campaign with 34 points, while Bam Adebayo had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Heat’s success was largely due to their sharp three-point shooting, which they achieved at 43% accuracy. The Cavaliers matched this performance, albeit from a slightly different distance.
Despite the loss, the most concerning aspect for the Cavaliers is Jarrett Allen’s continued average play. After Mobley went down, Allen struggled to make an impact, scoring just six points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes. If Mobley misses significant time due to injury, Allen will need to step up his game to provide a stronger presence in the paint.
The Cavaliers will face the Washington Wizards at home on Friday, December 13, providing them with a meaningful rest before the NBA Cup continues.
Source: https://www.fearthesword.com/2024/12/8/24316691/cavs-fall-to-miami-122-110