Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “We have to be better”: The Heat failed to complete a fourth-quarter comeback in Game 2

The Heat nearly completed a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback, but Donovan Mitchell’s on-the-dribble 3-pointers denied the upset as the series shifts to Miami for Games 3 and 4. He had 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and logged all but one of his team’s field goals late. 

Despite starting Davion Mitchell for Alec Burks and sparking an early burst that put the Heat ahead by eight, the Cavaliers took control on transition attacks and a surplus of 3-pointers, totaling 14 in 23 attempts, giving them a 17-point edge at halftime. Adding insult to injury, four long-range bombs belonged to former Heatle Max Strus.

The defense was brutally sullied as the talent differential looked as wide as Lake Erie. Tyler Herro had 17 points on 63.6% shooting, and Haywood Highsmith made three treys without a miss, but the Cavaliers had six players doing damage. 

Then Herro did the heavy lifting for his club, nailing a 3-pointer and finessing his way into the paint for a floater and two layups. Yet it wasn’t enough as they momentarily fell behind by 19 despite the Cavaliers downshifting to fourth gear. 

Subsequently, the final frame showed the Heat’s real character and validated everything the coaching staff has done with Nikola Jović, even with his late misses. He recovered an offensive rebound that supplied a second-chance triple, set up Herro in transition, which cut the deficit to two, and dribbled inside the lane for a scoop. Davion Mitchell also scored 14 fourth-quarter points on 83.3% shooting. Haywood Highsmith nailed two treys. And Bam Adebayo set up three teammates and sacrificed body, screening and going for rebounds. 

Yet, Jović lost the ball, and Spida crossed him up on the next possession, burying a 3-pointer in his face. On the following play, Mitchell forced the switch on Herro, but as Davion tried to rotate back, an opening was taken that resulted in a 31-foot splash, putting the Cavs up by seven with under two minutes.  On top of that, Jović misfired a great look in the corner that would have kept the team on life support.

The Heat lost 121-112. They allowed 19 points off turnovers plus were outscored on the break by 11. And they didn’t get enough from Andrew Wiggins who was invisible on offense with 10 points on 30% shooting.

After the game, Darius Garland was asked in the locker room about the game plan against the Heat. He said, “Pick on Tyler Herro. Pick on their weak defenders. Go after them.” 

And just like that, there was bulletin board material. In spite of Herro’s defensive limitations, he was easily spraying and dribbling by everyone in front of him. 

On the losing side, coach Erik Spoelstra said, “We had our opportunities… we struggled to contain Mitchell, obviously, down the stretch. He made some tough shots; he did what he typically does.” He was pleased with Jović’s performance, too. 

Adebayo credited the Cavaliers’ shotmaking, and Herro said, “You can take some things, the positives from this and try to carry it over in Game 3.”

Game 3 is on Saturday. The Cavaliers are ahead in the series 2-0.