The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to face the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Wednesday night. The Cavaliers hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a 37-9 record, while the Heat sit in sixth at 23-22. This is their second meeting this season, with Miami winning the first matchup 122-113 in December.
Cleveland is coming off a strong defensive performance against Detroit, winning 110-91. Miami, despite internal turmoil and Jimmy Butler’s suspension, has won two straight, including a double-overtime victory against Orlando. Both teams look to continue their momentum in this Eastern Conference battle.
Cavaliers Preview – Defense Leading the Way
Cleveland has been dominant this season, winning 37 of their first 46 games. They rank second in the NBA in field goal percentage at 49.5% and lead the league in three-point shooting at 39.5%. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland continue to power the offense, averaging 23.7 and 18.9 points per game, respectively.
Defensively, the Cavaliers are one of the best in the league, allowing just 110.4 points per game. They held Detroit to just 91 points in their last outing, with strong efforts from Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The duo combines for nearly 25 rebounds per game, controlling the paint.
Cleveland will be without Caris LeVert, Dean Wade, and Isaac Okoro due to injuries. Despite these absences, they have plenty of depth and will look to use their defensive strength to slow down Miami’s offense.
Heat Preview – Herro Carrying the Load
The Heat have been dealing with off-court drama, including Jimmy Butler’s indefinite suspension. Tyler Herro has stepped up, scoring 30 points in their win against Orlando and 25 in their previous victory against Brooklyn. He leads the team’s offense and will need another big game against Cleveland’s defense.
Bam Adebayo has also been a key contributor, averaging 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He nearly posted a triple-double against the Magic and will have a tough matchup against Mobley and Allen in the paint. Miami’s three-point shooting has been inconsistent, ranking 15th in the league at 36.0%.
Injuries remain a concern, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. listed as day-to-day and Josh Richardson out. The Heat’s depth will be tested, and they need contributions from Duncan Robinson and Haywood Highsmith to stay competitive.
Betting Prediction
Cleveland enters as a 7.5-point favorite, with the total set at 228.5 points. The Cavaliers have covered in 32 of their last 48 games and have been dominant in first halves, winning 34 of their last 46 first-half moneylines. Miami, on the other hand, has covered the spread in just 20 of 45 games this season.
With Butler out and Cleveland’s defense clicking, the Cavaliers should control this game. Expect them to limit Miami’s offensive efficiency while capitalizing on their size advantage inside. The under could also be worth considering, given Cleveland’s defensive strength.
Pick: Cavaliers -7.5
