Game ID: 22300996
Miami Heat @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 30 27 18 29 104MIA 31 30 22 24 107
CLE vs MIA ScoutingCLE vs MIA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 3 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 23 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 32 min since (114% of 28)
NEW Okoro 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Wade 20 to 26 min over the last 4
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 7 since 3/01, returns tonight: 28 min (78% of 36)
OUT Strus missed 5 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 4 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 24 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK LeVert back 3/05 after 2, 32 min since (114% of 28)
NEW Allen 32 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 22 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/16 · 2 days' restOUT Strus missed 6 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 5 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 3/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 25 since 1/24, returns tonight: 16 min (144% of 11)
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 28 min since (78% of 36)
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Strus missed 7 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 4 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 27 min since (75% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 16 min since (144% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Strus missed 8 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 5 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/13 after 7, 27 min since (75% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 15 min since (137% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 9 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 8 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 6 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 13 min since (120% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 24 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 10 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Eva. Mobley missed 9 since 3/06, returns tonight: 21 min (67% of 32)
OUT Wade missed 7 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 14 min since (125% of 11)
NEW LeVert 28 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Okoro 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Morris Sr. 15 to 21 min over the last 3
CLE availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Mitchell missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 11 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 8 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 21 min since (67% of 32)
BACK Thompson back 3/16 after 25, 13 min since (119% of 11)
NEW Okoro 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Niang 21 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Morris Sr. 15 to 21 min over the last 4
CLE availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Strus missed 12 since 3/05, returns tonight: 24 min (75% of 33)
OUT Wade missed 9 since 3/10, out tonight
BACK Eva. Mobley back 3/24 after 9, 23 min since (73% of 32)
NEW Niang 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Merrill 17 to 25 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Herro missed 8 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 11 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Love missed 6 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Bryant missed 2 since 3/08, returns tonight: 14 min (119% of 12)
OUT Cain missed 9 since 2/23, out tonight
NEW Robinson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 9 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 12 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 6 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Love missed 7 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 10 since 2/23, returns tonight: 1 min (11% of 10)
BACK Bryant back 3/05 after 12, 10 min since (86% of 12)
MIA availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 10 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 13 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 7 since 3/02, returns tonight: 21 min (95% of 22)
OUT Love missed 8 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 15 min since (134% of 12)
BACK Cain back 3/15 after 10, 1 min since (11% of 10)
MIA availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Herro missed 11 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 14 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 9 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 21 min since (95% of 22)
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (120% of 12)
BACK Cain back 3/15 after 10, 1 min since (11% of 10)
NEW Robinson 27 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Butler III missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 37 min (109% of 34)
OUT Herro missed 12 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 15 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 2 since 3/17, returns tonight: 33 min (166% of 20)
OUT Love missed 10 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 18 min since (83% of 22)
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (125% of 12)
MIA availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 13 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 16 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 11 since 2/29, out tonight
OUT Cain missed 3 since 3/17, returns tonight: 4 min (38% of 10)
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 37 min since (109% of 34)
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 17 min since (79% of 22)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 33 min since (166% of 20)
BACK Bryant back 3/13 after 2, 14 min since (126% of 12)
MIA availability going into 3/24 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 14 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 2 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 17 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 12 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 37 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 19 min since (85% of 22)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 26 min since (130% of 20)
BACK Cain back 3/15 after 10, 2 min since (25% of 10)
MIA availability going into 3/26 · 1 day's restOUT Herro missed 15 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 3 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 18 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 13 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 33 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Wright back 3/17 after 7, 21 min since (96% of 22)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 24 min since (117% of 20)
BACK Cain back 3/22 after 3, 7 min since (66% of 10)
MIA availability going into 3/29 · 2 days' restOUT Herro missed 16 since 2/26, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 4 since 3/20, out tonight
OUT Richardson missed 19 since 2/13, out tonight
OUT Love missed 14 since 2/29, out tonight
BACK Butler III back 3/20 after 2, 33 min since (96% of 34)
BACK Jović back 3/20 after 2, 25 min since (126% of 20)
BACK Cain back 3/22 after 3, 5 min since (49% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 19 and Allen at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Strus (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (7 straight), Wade (5 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 101, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 17 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Butler III at 17 a game. Without Butler III (2 straight), Herro (12 straight), Richardson (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Miami's 29 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-3 a night and Cleveland minus-4. Call it Cleveland 109, Miami 106, Miami keeping it close.
3/11 vs PHX 111-117 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-117. CLE shot 48% (40 of 84) to PHX's 55%, 15 of 46 from three. Garland led with 30 (10 of 17, 7 of 10 from three); LeVert added 17, J. Allen 15. Q1 was theirs, 41-32, but the other 3 periods went 85-70 against them. They led by as many as 19. Garland's -16 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ NOP 116-95 — CLE notes
CLE won 116-95. CLE shot 51% (47 of 92) to NOP's 44%, 20 of 45 from three, and got to the line 3 times to NOP's 26. Garland led with 27 (10 of 16, 6 of 10 from three); Allen added 17, Niang 16. The hinge was Q3, 34-23: a lead of 8 became 19, and the lead reached 27. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/16 @ HOU 103-117 — CLE notes
CLE lost 103-117. CLE shot 45% (37 of 82) to HOU's 48%, 12 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to HOU's 12 — 17 points from the stripe to their 8. CLE turned it over 15 times to HOU's 9, and HOU turned those into 9 steals. LeVert led with 21 (8 of 14, 1 of 4 from three); Niang added 14, Mitchell 13. Q4 was theirs, 30-19, the deficit cut from 25 to 14, but the other 3 periods went 98-73 against them. Niang's -17 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/18 @ IND 108-103 — CLE notes
CLE won 108-103. CLE shot 48% (38 of 80) to IND's 46%, 12 of 32 from three, and went to the line 28 times to IND's 16 — 20 points from the stripe to their 10. LeVert led with 23 (7 of 15, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Allen added 23, Morris Sr. 14. The hinge was Q2, 29-20: CLE came in trailing by 9 and left it level. LeVert was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/20 vs MIA 104-107 — CLE notes
CLE lost 104-107. CLE shot 47% (35 of 75) to MIA's 46%, 15 of 42 from three. Allen led with 25 (10 of 13, 5 of 6 at the line); Garland added 20, Niang 18. Q4 was theirs, 29-24, the deficit cut from 8 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 83-75 against them. LeVert's -9 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/22 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 15 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Reid at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Gobert (3 straight), Towns (7 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 20 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight), Strus (9 straight), Eva. Mobley (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-2 a night and Minnesota minus-7 and the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 12 times a game to Minnesota's 9. Call it Minnesota 112, Cleveland 108, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/24 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 102, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Adebayo at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Herro (14 straight), Robinson (2 straight), Richardson (17 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 18 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Mitchell (3 straight), Strus (10 straight), Eva. Mobley (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 12 times a game to Miami's 9 and the arc, Cleveland at 35 percent from three to Miami's 31. Call it Miami 107, Cleveland 106, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/25 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Allen at 16 and LeVert at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Mitchell (4 straight), Strus (11 straight), Wade (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 16 free throws a game; Bridges at 20 and Micić at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 22 free throws a game to Charlotte's 16. Call it Cleveland 110, Charlotte 106, Charlotte keeping it close.
3/27 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 94 a night and allowing 115, shooting 43 percent and 27 from three, 17 free throws a game; Bridges at 17 and Miller at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Allen at 18 and Garland at 15 a game. Without Mitchell (5 straight), Strus (12 straight), Wade (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 35 percent from three to Charlotte's 27 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 105 a night to Charlotte's 115. Call it Cleveland 110, Charlotte 105.
3/13 vs DEN 88-100 — MIA notes
MIA lost 88-100. MIA shot 42% (34 of 80) to DEN's 49%, 5 of 21 from three. Adebayo led with 17 (7 of 15); Butler III added 15, Rozier 14. Q3 was theirs, 27-22, the deficit cut from 6 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 78-61 against them. Martin's -14 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 @ DET 108-95 — MIA notes
MIA won 108-95. MIA shot 47% (43 of 91) to DET's 43%, 7 of 34 from three, and went to the line 21 times to DET's 15 — 15 points from the stripe to their 13. MIA turned it over 8 times to DET's 17. Adebayo led with 22 (10 of 14); Rozier added 18, Martin 18. The hinge was Q3, 28-18: a lead of 2 became 12, and the lead reached 21. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
3/17 @ DET 104-101 — MIA notes
MIA won 104-101. MIA shot 45% (40 of 89) to DET's 46%, 12 of 35 from three. Robinson led with 30 (10 of 15, 7 of 12 from three); Adebayo added 20, Rozier 17. The hinge was Q2, 39-27: MIA came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 17.
3/18 @ PHI 91-98 — MIA notes
MIA lost 91-98. MIA shot 39% (35 of 89) to PHI's 44%, 12 of 33 from three. Rozier led with 20 (8 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Adebayo added 20, Martin 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-19, the deficit cut from 14 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 79-65 against them. Adebayo's -19 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/20 @ CLE 107-104 — MIA notes
MIA won 107-104. MIA shot 46% (38 of 83) to CLE's 47%, 13 of 36 from three. Butler III led with 30 (11 of 19, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Rozier added 24, Jović 14. The hinge was Q3, 22-18: a lead of 4 became 8. Butler III was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
3/22 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 100, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 18 free throws a game; Adebayo at 20 and Butler III at 20 a game. Without Herro (13 straight), Richardson (16 straight), Love (11 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Williamson at 28 and McCollum at 17 a game. Without Daniels (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 100 a night to New Orleans's 108. Call it Miami 109, New Orleans 106, New Orleans keeping it close.
3/24 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 102, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 20 and Adebayo at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Herro (14 straight), Robinson (2 straight), Richardson (17 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Garland at 18 and Allen at 18 a game. Without Mitchell (3 straight), Strus (10 straight), Eva. Mobley (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Cleveland giving it away 12 times a game to Miami's 9 and the arc, Cleveland at 35 percent from three to Miami's 31. Call it Miami 107, Cleveland 106, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/26 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 100, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 21 and Rozier at 18 a game. Without Herro (15 straight), Robinson (3 straight), Richardson (18 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 20 a game. Without Šarić (2 straight), Looney (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 100 a night to Golden State's 119 and the arc, Golden State at 39 percent from three to Miami's 34. Call it Miami 113, Golden State 110, Golden State keeping it close.
3/29 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 102, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 17 free throws a game; Butler III at 21 and Adebayo at 18 a game. Without Herro (16 straight), Robinson (4 straight), Richardson (19 straight). 2 days' rest. Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 16 free throws a game; Banton at 20 and Henderson at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Simons (3 straight), Sharpe (36 straight), Ayton (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 102 a night to Portland's 117 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Miami's 9. Call it Miami 112, Portland 105.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
CP C. Porter Jr.
DG D. Garland
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MM M. Morris Sr.
SM S. Merrill
TT T. Thompson
MIABU Butler
CM C. Martin
DW D. Wright
HH H. Highsmith
JB J. Butler III
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
JO Jovic
NJ N. Jović
OR O. Robinson
PM P. Mills
TB T. Bryant
TR T. Rozier
CLE/MIA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Terry Rozier's go-ahead 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds left helps the Heat beat the Cavaliers 107-104
CLEVELAND -- — Terry Rozier scored nine points in the final 1:24, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds on the clock, lifting the Miami Heat to a 107-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Rozier converted a 4-point play before sinking a 26 footer that gave Miami a 105-102 lead. After Georges Niang made a layup for the Cavaliers, Rozier followed with two free throws with 2.8 seconds remaining.
Darius Garland had a chance to force overtime, but his off-balance, 3-point attempt was off the mark and Cleveland lost its third straight home game.
“This is why we went after Terry," in a trade with Charlotte on Jan. 23 Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We wanted to have another guy who can make something happen late in games. He’s always been that kind of player in big moments with Charlotte and of course with Boston."
Jimmy Butler scored 30 points and Youngstown, Ohio native Rozier finished with 24, helping Miami pull within one-half game of Philadelphia for the sixth and final automatic playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Nikola Jovic added 14 points.
“Terry put on a show, man, with half the arena there to see him tonight,” Butler said. “Basketball is supposed to be fun and him doing it somewhat at his crib, in front of his people, was something.”
Jarrett Allen had 25 points and 20 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who remained third in the East. Garland scored 20 points, Caris LeVert added 16 points and 12 assists, and Niang had 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland was without three starters in All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (nasal fracture), power forward Evan Mobley (left ankle sprain) and small forward Max Strus (right knee strain). Mitchell will have his status updated next week.
“All are closer, but I can’t give you any projected timetable,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
All-Star center Bam Adebayo (lower back contusion) and shooting guard Duncan Robinson (back discomfort) were unavailable for Miami. Both saw action Monday in a 98-91 loss at Philadelphia .
“Coach told me it was time to take a game off,” Adebayo said. “It was more maintenance than anything else.”
Rozier shot just 27.9% on 3-pointers over his first 21 games with the Heat, but made 5 of 6 in his Ohio homecoming.
“My teammates and my coaches kept reminding me who I am,” Rozier said. “They told me just to keep shooting. Knowing my guys believed in me meant a lot.”
The Heat built a 54-43 lead in the second quarter — aided by three Cleveland technical fouls in a 4 1/2-minute span — before going into halftime up 61-57. Butler had 20 points for Miami, while Allen paced the Cavaliers with 14 points and 10 rebounds.