Terry Rozier scored seven of his 24 points down the stretch, including on a step-back 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation, which proved to be the game-winner for the visiting Miami Heat in their 107-104 defeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Miami, which came in having last beaten a team with a record above .500 on Feb. 26, led most of the way against a Cleveland team that entered the night third in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat (38-31) could not gain much separation, however, pushing their advantage to 11 points at its peak. Playing without Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus, the Cavaliers (43-26) rallied to take a fourth-quarter lead behind Georges Niang’s 10 points in the period.
Niang was one of five Cleveland scorers in double figures, finishing with 18 points. Jarrett Allen recorded his 34th double-double of the season and first 20-plus-point, 20-plus-rebound double-double since Dec. 27 with a team-high 25 points and 20 boards.
Niang’s final two points came on a pair of free throws with 1:34 remaining, giving the Cavaliers a four-point lead, but Rozier immediately negated the edge when Isaac Okoro fouled Rozier on a made 3-point attempt.
Rozier converted the four-point play to tie it at 100-100, then Miami forced a shot-clock violation on the ensuing Cleveland possession to set up the game-winning basket.
Rozier shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range. Jimmy Butler, who scored a game-high 30 points, went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc and 11-of-19 from the floor overall.
Butler also had four steals. Patty Mills, who scored 10 points, added two steals. Nikola Jovic shot 4-of-10 from 3-point distance on his way to 14 points for Miami.
Caris LeVert recorded his third double-double in the past five games with 16 points and 12 assists in the loss. Darius Garland shot 5-of-12 from 3-point range en route to 20 points, while Sam Merrill went 4-of-9 beyond the arc for all 12 of his points off the bench.
–Field Level Media
