The Miami Heat are in a tough spot as they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday. Down 0-2 in the series, Miami needs a win at home to keep their postseason hopes alive. The Cavs come in as 6-point road favorites according to BetOnline.
You can catch all the action live at 1 p.m. ET on TNT, or stream it free through Jazz Sports.
The Heat will be playing shorthanded again. Terry Rozier remains out with an ankle injury, Kevin Love is unavailable for personal reasons, and Dru Smith is done for the season with an Achilles injury.
Cleveland might be without point guard Darius Garland, who’s questionable with a toe issue.
Cleveland has dominated the series so far, crushing Miami 121-100 in Game 1 before holding on for a 121-112 win in Game 2 despite a 33-point outburst from Tyler Herro.
Donovan Mitchell has been unstoppable.
The Cavs star has posted 30+ points in both playoff games, continuing his season-long dominance against the Heat.
“We had our opportunities there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Game 2. “We struggled to contain Mitchell down the stretch. He made some tough shots. He did what he typically does.”
Miami showed some fight in Game 2, erasing a 17-point deficit thanks to Davion Mitchell’s 14-point fourth quarter explosion. Nikola Jovic added a spark off the bench with 11 points and eight rebounds.
But for Miami to turn this series around, they’ll need more from Andrew Wiggins.
The midseason acquisition from Golden State (part of the Jimmy Butler trade) is shooting just 8-for-21 in the series and didn’t even see the floor in the fourth quarter of Game 2.
When asked about Wiggins’ playing time, Spoelstra explained he wanted to stick with the lineup that was making the comeback.
The numbers don’t favor Miami heading into this crucial game. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Cavs a 72.5% chance of winning. Cleveland is red-hot on the road, going 15-5 in their last 20 away games.
Meanwhile, the Heat have struggled against Central Division teams, winning just one of their last eight matchups.
If Miami can’t protect home court on Saturday, they’ll be facing elimination in Game 4.
