Back on April 26, 2025, the Cleveland Cavaliers were facing the Miami Heat. Take a look at the electricity that ignited inside the Kaseya Center for this pivotal contest. Unfortunately for everyone but home fans, this matchup was the third game in their playoff series. The Cavaliers were looking to take a stranglehold 3-0 lead in the series. The game began at 8:00 PM and was broadcasted live on TNT.
Right from the opening whistle, the energy was evident as both teams battled for possession. Tyler Herro got things going early with a 5-foot driving floating jump shot to give the Heat an early 2-0 lead. The Cavaliers fought back with hard drives, but they weren’t able to get anything going early on in the first quarter.
As the first quarter progressed, Bam Adebayo attempted a 26-foot three-point jumper but missed, showcasing the pressure both teams felt. Even Evan Mobley‘s harshest critics had a hard time enjoying that moment. He missed a 25-foot three-point attempt with 24 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Bam Adebayo was the gamechanger as the first quarter was coming to a close. With only 53 seconds remaining on the clock, he skillfully completed a tip shot to end the game. He then bricked an open 4-foot two-point shot, showing just how strong the defense was on both ends of the floor. Jarrett Allen took full advantage on this play right here off Max Strus’s assist. Then, with only 16 seconds remaining in the period, he flushed a thunderous 2-foot dunk.
The quarter finished with a slew of missed chances for each squad. Max Strus clanked a pair of tries from distance, the last a 23-foot three-point jumper that left Connecticut with just 13 ticks left. And Donovan Mitchell of the Cavs barely got a shot off in the closing seconds. Tied with just 46 seconds left in the quarter, he bricked an 8-foot two-pointer.
Kel’el Ware got the Cavaliers’ first basket in style with a high-arcing 6-foot two-point jumper. Davion Mitchell put him in perfect position just before the buzzer at 50 seconds. However, even with these efforts, both teams shot poorly during this key stretch.
As the game continued, fans at Kaseya Center saw a heavyweight fight. It was an exciting matchup between two skilled teams, both of which were hungry to take the lead in the playoff series. At the end of the first quarter, the scoreboard reflected the same story as all those missed shots. It was equally a brutal contest of wits and strategy.
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