Game ID: 22501068
Miami Heat @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 40 41 28 40 149MIA 27 19 41 41 128
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 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 28 min since (112% of 25)
BACK Tomlin back 3/09 after 2, 11 min since (77% of 14)
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 30 min since (119% of 25)
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT Allen missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 10 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 30 min since (122% of 25)
NEW Ellis 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Tyson missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 11 since 3/01, returns tonight: 6 min (62% of 10)
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 31 min since (125% of 25)
NEW Ellis 20 to 25 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 10 since 3/08, returns tonight: 18 min (66% of 28)
OUT Tyson missed 3 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 6 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 6 since 3/15, returns tonight: 4 min (34% of 12)
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 31 min since (123% of 25)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 6 min since (62% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/30 · 2 days' restOUT Tyson missed 4 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 7 since 3/15, returns tonight: 15 min (92% of 16)
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 18 min since (66% of 28)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 6 min since (59% of 10)
NEW Merrill 25 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Ellis 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/31 · back-to-backOUT Tyson missed 5 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 3 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 18 min since (66% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 15 min since (92% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 4 min since (34% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 8 min since (77% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Tyson missed 6 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 4 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 18 min since (66% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 8 min since (66% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 9 min since (87% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 4/05 · 2 days' restOUT Tyson missed 7 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Wade missed 5 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Allen back 3/27 after 10, 20 min since (73% of 28)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/30 after 7, 15 min since (93% of 16)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/27 after 6, 8 min since (66% of 12)
BACK Proctor back 3/25 after 11, 9 min since (87% of 10)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 6 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 12 since 2/21, out tonight
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (104% of 30)
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 20 min since (121% of 17)
NEW Larsson 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Ware 22 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Jakučionis 18 to 24 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 7 since 3/06, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 13 since 2/21, returns tonight: 4 min (22% of 17)
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Fontecchio back 3/10 after 3, 20 min since (119% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 38 min over the last 4
NEW Larsson 26 to 32 min over the last 5
MIA availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Wiggins missed 8 since 3/06, returns tonight: 20 min (65% of 30)
OUT Jaquez Jr. missed 2 since 3/19, returns tonight: 20 min (69% of 28)
BACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 33 min since (106% of 31)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (106% of 30)
BACK Jović back 3/21 after 13, 4 min since (22% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 39 min over the last 4
NEW Larsson 26 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Fontecchio 17 to 24 min over the last 4
MIA availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restBACK Herro back 3/14 after 2, 32 min since (102% of 31)
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 20 min since (65% of 30)
BACK Powell back 3/14 after 7, 31 min since (105% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 20 min since (69% of 28)
BACK Jović back 3/21 after 13, 4 min since (22% of 17)
NEW Adebayo 32 to 38 min over the last 4
MIA availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 22 min since (71% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 19 min since (69% of 28)
MIA availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Jović missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 21 min since (70% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 20 min since (71% of 28)
MIA availability going into 3/30 · back-to-backOUT Jović missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 4 since 3/23, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 16)
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 25 min since (83% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 21 min since (76% of 28)
MIA availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 2 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Jović missed 5 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Wiggins back 3/23 after 8, 27 min since (90% of 30)
BACK Jaquez Jr. back 3/23 after 2, 24 min since (83% of 28)
BACK Smith back 3/30 after 4, 3 min since (19% of 16)
MIA availability going into 4/04 · 2 days' restOUT Powell missed 3 since 3/29, out tonight
OUT Jakučionis missed 2 since 3/30, returns tonight: 28 min (156% of 18)
OUT Jović missed 6 since 3/23, returns tonight: 13 min (75% of 17)
BACK Smith back 3/30 after 4, 4 min since (21% of 16)
NEW Larsson 26 to 34 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Mitchell at 29 and Harden at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Allen (10 straight), Tyson (3 straight), Porter Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Herro at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jović (2 straight), Smith (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-8 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 117 a night to Miami's 126. Call it Cleveland 121, Miami 116.
3/19 @ CHI 115-110 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-110. CLE shot 44% (40 of 91) to CHI's 45%, 14 of 41 from three, and went to the line 31 times to CHI's 17 — 21 points from the stripe to their 11. Harden led with 36 (10 of 23, 7 of 13 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Mobley added 26, Tyson 18. The hinge was Q1, 32-22: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 29.
3/21 @ NOP 111-106 — CLE notes
CLE won 111-106. CLE shot 48% (42 of 88) to NOP's 43%, 12 of 39 from three. The glass went 55-40 for them. Mitchell led with 27 (9 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Harden added 20, Mobley 18. The hinge was Q4, 35-18: CLE came in trailing by 12 and left it ahead by 5. CLE trailed 53-56 at the half and won the second half 58-50. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
3/24 vs ORL 136-131 — CLE notes
CLE won 136-131. CLE shot 60% (49 of 81) to ORL's 49%, 12 of 30 from three, and got to the line 29 times to ORL's 38. Mitchell led with 42 (14 of 22, 3 of 7 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Harden added 26, Merrill 19. The hinge was Q2, 40-29: CLE came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 4. Strus was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/25 vs MIA 103-120 — CLE notes
CLE lost 103-120. CLE shot 43% (35 of 81) to MIA's 52%, 12 of 37 from three. Mitchell led with 28 (12 of 22, 4 of 9 from three); Harden added 18, Merrill 18. Q3 was theirs, 37-20, the deficit cut from 17 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 100-66 against them. Merrill's -22 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/27 vs MIA 149-128 — CLE notes
CLE won 149-128. CLE shot 54% (52 of 97) to MIA's 44%, 19 of 41 from three, and got to the line 31 times to MIA's 38. Strus led with 29 (10 of 14, 8 of 11 from three); Mobley added 23, Allen 18. The hinge was Q2, 41-19: a lead of 13 became 35. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/30 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 134, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 27 free throws a game; Bailey at 21 and Sensabaugh at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Collier (6 straight), Hinson (2 straight), Love (6 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Harden at 23 a game. Without Tyson (4 straight), Wade (2 straight), Porter Jr. (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Utah minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 119 a night to Utah's 134. Call it Cleveland 124, Utah 119.
3/31 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 52 percent and 32 from three, 34 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Reaves at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Smart (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Mobley at 20 a game. Without Tyson (5 straight), Wade (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Lakers allowing 109 a night to Cleveland's 120 and the line, where the Lakers take 34 free throws a game to Cleveland's 27. Call it the Lakers 119, Cleveland 115, Cleveland keeping it close.
4/02 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 22 and Santos at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Ste. Curry (26 straight), Moody (4 straight), Horford (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 124, shooting 52 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Harden at 18 a game. Without Tyson (6 straight), Wade (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 18 times a game to Cleveland's 11 and the glass, where Golden State has been plus-7 a night and Cleveland plus-0. Call it Cleveland 120, Golden State 118, Golden State keeping it close.
4/05 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 120, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Strus at 21 and Mitchell at 21 a game. Without Tyson (7 straight), Wade (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 125, shooting 53 percent and 43 from three, 14 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nembhard at 14 a game. Without Nesmith (3 straight), Walker (3 straight), McConnell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Cleveland takes 25 free throws a game to Indiana's 14 and the arc, Indiana at 43 percent from three to Cleveland's 36. Call it Cleveland 123, Indiana 117.
3/19 vs LAL 126-134 — MIA notes
MIA lost 126-134. MIA took 13 more shots (94 to 81), fed by 12 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to LAL's 53%, 12 of 38 from three, and got to the line 22 times to LAL's 45. Adebayo led with 28 (9 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Herro added 21, Powell 20. Q1 was theirs, 42-29, but the other 3 periods went 105-84 against them. They led by as many as 15. Larsson's -16 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/21 @ HOU 122-123 — MIA notes
MIA lost 122-123. MIA shot 51% (47 of 92) to HOU's 52%, 16 of 41 from three. Adebayo led with 32 (12 of 21, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Herro added 25, Fontecchio 21. Q3 was theirs, 33-23, turning a 1-point deficit into a 9-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-89 against them. They led by as many as 12. Gardner's -15 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs SAS 111-136 — MIA notes
MIA lost 111-136. MIA shot 40% (38 of 95) to SAS's 48%, 16 of 52 from three, and got to the line 20 times to SAS's 28. The glass went 38-62 against them. Powell led with 21 (7 of 18, 4 of 11 from three); Adebayo added 18, Herro 18. Q4 was theirs, 30-28, the deficit cut from 27 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 108-81 against them. Adebayo's -26 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 @ CLE 120-103 — MIA notes
MIA won 120-103. MIA shot 52% (42 of 81) to CLE's 43%, 18 of 45 from three. Powell led with 19 (7 of 12, 3 of 7 from three); Herro added 18, Adebayo 17. The hinge was Q4, 37-20: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Ware was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/27 @ CLE 128-149 — MIA notes
MIA lost 128-149. MIA shot 44% (40 of 91) to CLE's 54%, 15 of 46 from three, and went to the line 38 times to CLE's 31 — 33 points from the stripe to their 26. Jaquez Jr. led with 20 (9 of 13, 2 of 5 from three); Powell added 15, Adebayo 14. Q3 was theirs, 41-28, the deficit cut from 35 to 22, but the other 3 periods went 121-87 against them. Herro's -23 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/29 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 128, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Nembhard at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Thompson (8 straight), Jones (4 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 22 and Powell at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Jović (3 straight), Smith (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 44 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Miami 122, Indiana 121, Indiana keeping it close.
3/30 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Herro at 21 and Adebayo at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Jović (4 straight), Smith (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edgecombe at 26 and Grimes at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-1 a night and Miami minus-6 and the arc, Philadelphia at 41 percent from three to Miami's 35. Call it Philadelphia 123, Miami 120, Miami keeping it close.
4/01 vs BOS — 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 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 25 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Powell at 18 a game. Without Powell (2 straight), Jović (5 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Vučević (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Miami's 126 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Miami minus-2. Call it Boston 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
4/04 vs WAS — 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 123 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 26 free throws a game; Herro at 22 and Adebayo at 20 a game. Without Powell (3 straight), Jakučionis (2 straight), Jović (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Riley at 19 and Vukcevic at 14 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Reese (2 straight), George (16 straight), Black (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 26 free throws a game to Washington's 18 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-1 a night and Washington minus-5. Call it Miami 125, Washington 118.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLEDS D. Schröder
EM E. Mobley
JA J. Allen
JH J. Harden
KE K. Ellis
LN L. Nance Jr.
MS M. Strus
NT N. Tomlin
OS O. Sarr
RM R. Minix
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
TB T. Bryant
TP T. Proctor
MIAAW A. Wiggins
BA B. Adebayo
DM D. Mitchell
JJ J. Jaquez Jr.
JA Jakucionis
KJ K. Jakučionis
KJ K. Johnson
KW K. Ware
MG M. Gardner
NP N. Powell
PL P. Larsson
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Herro
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
Max Strus makes eight 3s scores 29, Jarrett Allen returns as Cavs roll to 149-128 win over Heat
CLEVELAND -- — Max Strus scored 29 points, Evan Mobley had 23 and Jarrett Allen came back from injury to add 18, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 149-128 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night in the second matchup between the teams in three days.
Strus made six of his eight 3-pointers in a 22-point first half as the Cavs bolted to a 35-point lead. He made one just ahead of the halftime horn to put Cleveland ahead 81-46 and cap the team's highest scoring half this season.
The Cavs bounced back from a 120-103 loss to the Heat on Wednesday with a strong performance and matched the team record for points in a regulation game.
Allen's return provided a major spark. He missed 10 games with tendinitis in his knee. The 27-year-old's absence especially hurt on defense and deprived him time to build chemistry with star guard James Harden , whose acquisition at the trade deadline has raised title hopes.
Harden finished with 17 points and 14 assists, his most with Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell scored just six on 1 of 10 shooting.
Down by 36, the Heat fought back and got within 101-82 on a 3-pointer by Jamie Jaquez Jr. But Cleveland regrouped and Keon Ellis drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Cavaliers a comfortable 109-87 lead entering the fourth.
Jaquez scored 20 points to pace the Heat. Bam Adebayo added 14 and 16 rebounds.
The loss dropped Miami from a three-way tie for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference into 10th, behind Orlando and Charlotte, which were idle.
Strus, who was playing in just his sixth game after foot surgery, made an immediate impact by making four 3-pointers in the last 4:37 of the first quarter to help the Cavs open a double-digit lead.