The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by Spanish coach Kenny Atkinson, have mathematically secured their spot in the NBA playoffs with a thrilling 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat, extending their winning streak to 12 games. With still a month and a half to go before the playoffs begin on April 19, the Cavaliers, who boast the best record in the league at 52-10, have already punched their ticket to the postseason. As the leaders of the Eastern Conference, they have a significant margin over the second-placed Boston Celtics, who have a 44-18 record.
Cleveland would have to experience a dramatic collapse in the coming weeks to fail to finish first in their conference. The Miami Heat, despite being in the playoff picture, gave it their all but ultimately fell short. The Cavaliers struggled until the final seconds, but their depth and talent proved too much for the Heat. Six players scored over 10 points for Cleveland, including Donovan Mitchell with 26 points and 7 rebounds, Evan Mobley with 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Darius Garland with 15 points and 10 assists.
In a bittersweet return to Cleveland, Kevin Love, who won an NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. He was warmly welcomed back by the Rocket Arena crowd. Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo was sensational for the Heat, scoring a season-high 34 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
The Heat’s Valiant Effort
Despite missing several key players, including Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and Nikola Jovic, the Heat competed fiercely against the Cavaliers in a tightly contested first quarter. Donovan Mitchell and Mobley led the charge for Cleveland, scoring 8 points each, as the Cavaliers took a 36-32 lead. Adebayo, who was forced to step up in the absence of several teammates, scored 10 points in the first quarter.
However, Kenny Atkinson’s deep roster eventually paid off, as the Cavaliers slowly built a double-digit lead. Reserves like De’Andre Hunter and Ty Jerome made significant contributions, putting pressure on the Heat’s depleted lineup. The first warning sign for the Heat came when the Cavaliers took a 56-41 lead with 4:52 remaining in the second quarter. But the Heat, led by Rozier and Davion Mitchell, responded with a 0-13 run to narrow the deficit to 63-59 at halftime.
Donovan Mitchell and Mobley were the standout performers for the Cavaliers in the first half, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively. Adebayo and Rozier led the way for the Heat, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively. The Heat’s defense, which alternated between man-to-man and zone, managed to stifle the Cavaliers’ offense, allowing them to take a 71-72 lead with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter.
The Cavaliers struggled to find their rhythm, and despite taking an 86-82 lead into the final quarter, the game remained intensely competitive. Adebayo continued to impress, scoring from both inside and outside the paint. A three-pointer by the Heat’s big man gave his team a 91-98 lead with 6:48 remaining, prompting the Cavaliers to regroup and respond.
In the end, the Cavaliers’ versatility, combined with Hunter’s scoring and Strus’s three-pointers, proved too much for the Heat. Both teams committed crucial errors in the final minutes, but the Cavaliers managed to secure the win. The Heat had one last chance to force overtime, but Duncan Robinson’s mistake on the sideline sealed their fate.
Kenny Atkinson: The Spanish Connection
Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers’ coach, was born on June 2, 1967, in Northport, New York. As a player, he was a 1.85m point guard who played professionally in Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain from 1993 to 2004. During his four years in Spain, he played for Canoe, Zamora, Salamanca, and Calpe Aguas Valencia. It was during this time that he met his Spanish wife and acquired dual nationality, making him the first coach with Spanish nationality to become a head coach in the NBA.
Atkinson’s coaching career in the NBA has been marked by stints as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors. He was also the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. The Cavaliers announced his appointment as their head coach on June 28, 2024. As a self-proclaimed fan of Spain, Atkinson has brought a unique perspective to the NBA, and his team’s success is a testament to his coaching prowess.