Miami couldn’t handle the heat as Cleveland takes Game 1 with a 121-112 victory—Cavs come out hot, and the Heat get burned!
April 23, 2025. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat. The Cavs pulled off an upset win, defeating the Heat 121-112 in Game 1 of their playoff series. Miami fans walked into this one thinking they had it in the bag, but instead, they ended up holding an empty ice pack to their hearts. Cleveland was just too much to handle, especially with Jimmy Butler having an off-night and the Cavs looking like they were playing a different sport altogether.
Darius Garland came out of the gate like he was auditioning for NBA Superstar of the Year, dropping 21 points like he was in a game of HORSE with his buddies. Every shot seemed to fall effortlessly, and Miami’s defense? A little more like a doormat than a wall. It was almost like Garland was playing against a JV squad instead of a team that has had recent Finals experience.
The Heat didn’t exactly roll over, The man who’s been Miami’s rock looked more like a pebble in this game, missing some key shots and not getting the defensive stops he’s known for. At one point, it seemed like every time he looked at the basket, the ball just said, “Nah, I’m good.”
Bam Adebayo was also in the building, but he couldn’t exactly find the switch to “playoff mode.” He had a solid 22 points, but he looked like he was trying to figure out how to make a sandwich with two left hands—everything just a little off. And don’t even get me started on Tyler Herro, who was supposed to be the secret weapon off the bench. Instead, he came in like he was trying to take a nap, scoring only 12 points in what felt like a lifetime.
The Cavs’ energy didn’t fade even when the Heat made some attempts to close the gap in the fourth quarter. Every time Miami tried to rally, Cleveland was right there, throwing down threes like they were taking candy from a baby. And when the buzzer sounded, it wasn’t just the Cavs’ victory; it was Miami’s playoff dreams taking a little dip in cold water.
As the final whistle blew, the Cleveland faithful erupted, and Miami’s bench looked like they’d just lost the will to live. This was a game the Heat should’ve won. Instead, it was a total wake-up call: Cleveland’s defense is for real, and they came to play. If Miami doesn’t step it up in Game 3, this series could be over quicker than you can say, “Is Miami okay?”