21 stats to explain Cavs 130-116 win over Heat

The short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers secured an impressive 130-116 victory over the Miami Heat, showcasing resilience and depth despite significant absences. Let’s dive into the numbers behind their triumph.

Cleveland was missing 135 of the 265 player minutes from Monday’s overtime thriller, including two All-NBA players. Such absences invariably place extra responsibility on role players, and fortunately for the Cavs, those stepping up delivered when it mattered most. Craig Porter Jr. scored 19 points, Tyrese Proctor added 12, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin contributed 9 — all making meaningful impacts off the bench.

The Cavaliers’ deep bench was pivotal to the win. When examining plus/minus stats, the team outperformed opponents during the minutes less frequent rotation players were on the court:
– They won by 11 points during Luke Travers’ 12 minutes.
– They outscored opponents by 14 points during Thomas Bryant’s 13 minutes.
– Tomlin’s 18 minutes resulted in a 20-point advantage.
– Proctor’s 23 minutes saw them outscore Miami by 21 points.

While individual plus/minus stats shouldn’t be overemphasized, these numbers highlight how the Cavs played some of their best basketball when less-utilized players got their chance — an encouraging sign for the team moving forward.

### Career Night for Craig Porter Jr.

Porter delivered a standout performance, scoring 19 points — his highest in a game since last season’s finale where he had 20. Over his three-year career, Porter has only scored 19 or more points four times. He also dished out nine assists, his most since the December 21, 2023 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

This performance was part of a broader team effort, as 32 of the Cavs’ 45 field goals were assisted, marking their third-highest assist total of the season. Porter’s impact extended beyond offense; he recorded seven “stocks” (four blocks and three steals), hitting a career high in blocks and tying his career high in steals.

### Jarrett Allen’s Fourth-Quarter Surge

After playing fewer than two fourth-quarter minutes in Monday’s loss to Miami, Jarrett Allen exploded for 12 points in the final frame on Wednesday. His previous season high for fourth-quarter points was just four, and he hadn’t scored double digits in a final quarter since his 19-point effort against the San Antonio Spurs on March 27, 2025.

Allen finished with 30 points total, his highest since March 8, 2024, when he scored 33 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 46-minute performance.

### Dominating the Possession Battle

A critical factor in the Cavs’ victory was their dominance in possessions. Cleveland grabbed 37.1% of their missed shots, ranking them in the 84th percentile for the season according to Cleaning the Glass. They also turned the ball over on just 12.1% of their possessions, placing them in the 81st percentile.

In contrast, Miami secured only 24.5% of their missed shots (27th percentile) and committed turnovers on 19.6% of possessions (16th percentile). This disparity translated to Cleveland winning the second-chance points battle 24-12 and outscoring Miami 29-16 on points off turnovers.

Though basketball is often less discussed as a possession game compared to football, controlling extra scoring opportunities is vital. The Cavs’ edge in these areas compensated for their struggles from beyond the arc, where they shot a cold 14-47 (29.8%).

### Free Throws and Offensive Efficiency

Cleveland’s aggressive approach also showed at the free-throw line, attempting 31 free throws compared to Miami’s 13. This was a complete reversal from Monday’s game, where the Cavs took only 27 free throws while Miami attempted 41.

These factors combined to give the Cavs a solid offensive rating of 121.5 (74th percentile) despite an ineffective shooting night from the field, as indicated by a relatively low effective field-goal percentage of 50% (23rd percentile).

In summary, Cleveland’s dominance in possession control and free-throw attempts masked their poor shooting, enabling them to overcome significant roster challenges and claim a well-earned victory.
https://www.fearthesword.com/cavs-analysis/40204/cleveland-cavaliers-stats-to-explain-cavs-win-heat-jarrett-allen

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