The Cleveland Cavaliers took control of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with a dominant 121-100 Game 1 win over the Miami Heat on Sunday night.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 30 points, marking his seventh straight playoff series opener with at least 30 points — a feat that ties Michael Jordan, who accomplished the streak twice during his legendary career.
Ty Jerome was the breakout star of the night, scoring 28 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter alone. In his NBA playoff debut, Jerome hit 6-of-7 shots and went a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the final quarter, helping the Cavs seal the victory.
Darius Garland added 27 points for Cleveland, hitting five 3-pointers. The Cavaliers as a team were 18-of-43 from deep, showing off their offensive firepower.
Despite trailing by 16 in the second quarter, the Heat made a push in the fourth, cutting the lead to 98-90 with just over seven minutes left. However, the Cavaliers responded with a 13-4 run, capped by 10 consecutive points from Jerome, to close out the game.
For Miami, Bam Adebayo scored 24 points, while Tyler Herro contributed 21 points. The Heat, who made history as the first No. 10 seed to reach the playoffs via the Play-In Tournament, now face an uphill battle.
Game 2 will be held on Wednesday night in Cleveland as the Cavaliers look to extend their series lead.
