The series has shifted back to South Florida, with the Miami Heat hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 3 Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST inside Kaseya Center, hoping to avoid an insurmountable deficit.
For the most part, in different ways, the Heat was competitive in their first two games of their first-round series–including coming back down from 19 to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Donovan Mitchell eventually put the game out of reach, but now the Heat returns home, where it won its only game against Cleveland this season.
The biggest storyline heading into Game 3 is Darius Garland versus Tyler Herro. Garland launched comments Herro’s way after Game 2 and Herro responded with comments of his own after Friday’s practice.
We’ll see who gets the best of each other. It’s easier to hide Garland than Herro. But I am guessing the Heat’s offense will make a concerted effort to mismatch hunt Garland and some of their weaker defenders.
The last–and only other–time Miami has won a series down 2-0 was in the 2006 NBA Finals. It will need two stars (Herro, Bam Adebayo) to play at the top of their game with supplementary production elsewhere for the Heat to make this series interesting.
What are your predictions heading into Game 3? Let us know in the comments!
Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):
Miami Heat:
- Kevin Love (personal reasons) — OUT
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Darius Garland (toe) — QUESTIONABLE
Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):
Miami Heat:
- Tyler Herro, G
- Davion Mitchell, G
- Andrew Wiggins, F
- Bam Adebayo, F/C
- Kel’el Ware, C
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Darius Garland, G
- Donovan Mitchell, G
- Max Strus, F
- Evan Mobley, F
- Jarrett Allen, C
Broadcast Info:
- Tipoff: 1:00 PM EST
- TV: TNT & FanDuel Sports Network Sun (Eric Reid & John Crotty)
- Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
- Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)
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Like Bout30 said, this is must win. We’re here for experience. We have the other team talking s**t. If not today, when? I have no doubt Tyler will be in Boy Wonder mode. I have no doubt Niko will give his all, same as Off Night. The question is what will Bam and Wiggins do. This team needs both to be aggressive from the jump. Show the fans you’re not here to roll over. Go HEAT!
There are must wins and this is one of them.
Overall, the playoffs have been more of a battle of brute strength than finesse. To much offensive initiation of contact for my taste. If I had my way, charging would be called twenty times a game till it stopped.
Heat do not have a DWade kinda player. No disrespect to Tyler but until he shows and do it, he’s far from jersey #3 Heat legend. Also we are the only remaining east team that haven’t won a game in the playoffs. Hope that changes after gm3. Go Heat!
Wahahaha! The game is 1AM here! Series better be 1-2 when I wake up.
comparing tyler to d wade come on manila.show some respect for d wade.for past heat players id compare ty to maybe hardaways level,d wade is a generational player.who put the heat on the map herro is a nice one way player .top 30-40 type player overall.bam if he would make his mind up could be a top 15-20 player but his bank acct is fine