Cavs Top 3: Cleveland Cavaliers hold off Kevin Love’s new team in tight contest

The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to fend off Kevin Love and the Miami Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won three straight, and four of their last five, elevating the Cavs to 2.5 games over the 5th-place New York Knicks. The Cavs came out of the All-Star break slumping hards and allowed the Knicks to get back into the hunt for home-court advantage in the NBA Playoffs. Right now the Cavs hold that advantage, but either way will look at a first-round matchup against the Knickerbockers.

Helping them grow their lead was their 104-100 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. This was not only one of the more pivotal matchups for the remainder of the season, as the Heat sit seventh in the playoff standings, but also due to the Kevin Love factor. This is the first time the Cavs have played against their franchise icon for the first time since Nov. 4, 2013. Love dropped 33 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and a BPM of +26 as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Love had a very different game on Wednesday, putting up just eight points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a BPM of -2. While Love’s numbers weren’t great, the Cavs and Heat were nearly identical all game. The Heat shot 50% from the floor to the Cavs’ 48%, while Miami shot just 27.6% from three to the Cavs’ 32.1%. This wasn’t unexpected as both teams are defensively minded and that was on full display in this encounter.

Darius Garland was the only Cavs player to break 20 points, while Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro of the Heat were the only two to do so as well. No bench players from either team broke double digits, a recurring trend for both squads.

The Heat and Cavs have a rematch on Friday, once again on the Heat’s home court.

Cleveland Cavaliers Top 3 vs. the Miami Heat

1 Point –Donovan Mitchell

34 minutes, 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, +8 BPM

2 Points – Jarrett Allen

33 minutes, 15 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, + 5 BPM

3 Points – Darius Garland

39 minutes, 25 points, 7 assists, 2 steals, +8 BPM

Cavs Top 3 Seasonal Standings

1. Darius Garland – 81 Points
2. Donovan Mitchell –73 Points
3. Evan Mobley – 56 points
4. Jarrett Allen – 47 points
5. Cedi Osman –  37 points
6. Caris LeVert – 21 Points
7. Isaac Okoro & Kevin Love – 20 Points
8. Raul Neto & Dean Wade – 4 Points
9. Ricky Rubio – 3 points
10. Lamar Stevens – 2 Points