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Adebayo and Antetokounmpo Score 37 Apiece as Heat Rally Past Cavaliers 133-121
By Adrian Cole
Photo: B137 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
MIAMI, Florida — Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 37 points as the Miami Heat erased a halftime deficit and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 133-121 on Friday night at Kaseya Center.
Adebayo added 14 rebounds and took control in the fourth quarter, scoring 18 points, including Miami’s first 10 of the period. Antetokounmpo shot 15 of 20 from the field and finished with nine rebounds as the Heat outscored Cleveland 41-30 in the final quarter.
The performance placed the two Miami stars alongside LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in franchise history. According to the NBA, via The Associated Press, Adebayo and Antetokounmpo became just the second Heat duo to score more than 35 points apiece in the same game, joining James and Wade, who did it in 2013. The AP also reported it was the second time Miami had two players score exactly 37 points in one game.
Davion Mitchell added 22 points and tied his career high with 17 assists, committing just one turnover. His playmaking helped Miami sustain its offense as the game tightened after halftime.
Cleveland led 57-54 at the break after taking a 30-25 advantage in the second quarter. The teams traded scoring runs in the third, with Miami moving ahead 92-91 entering the fourth. Adebayo then supplied the early offense that helped the Heat seize control and pull away.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 25 points and seven assists. James Harden contributed 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds, but Cleveland could not match Miami’s late scoring surge.
The Heat also held a 56-40 advantage in points in the paint, another key difference in a game that remained close through three quarters.
Miami improved to 6-6 and extended its winning streak to three games. The victory also moved the Heat to 2-0 in NBA Cup play, leaving them alone atop East Group B.
Cleveland fell to 1-1 in Cup play and has lost five of its past seven games, according to Reuters.
Adrian Cole
NBA, The Library Media
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