Cavs Take 2-0 Lead Behind Donovan Mitchell’s Clutch Shooting Performance

CLEVELAND — For most of the night, it looked like the Cavaliers were going to coast to an easy Game 2 win. The threes were falling, the crowd was electric, and the Cavs were up by as much as 19.

But then the Heat did what the Heat always do—refuse to quit. And when Cleveland needed someone to stop the bleeding, to slam the door shut and take control, they turned to the guy they always trust in big moments: Donovan Mitchell.

The veteran guard exploded for 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, hitting huge shot after huge shot, including two ridiculous back-to-back threes (one from way downtown), to crush Miami’s hopes of stealing one on the road. The Cavs held on for a 121-112 win and now lead the series 2-0 heading to South Beach.

“I’ve trained for moments like that,” Mitchell said afterward, calmly like he didn’t just save Cleveland’s night. “Even if I’m tired or things aren’t going perfect, I just lock in and go get it.”

That’s exactly what he did.

Red-Hot Start from Cleveland

Let’s rewind to the beginning, when it looked like this game would be a total blowout.

The Cavs were unconscious in the first half. Threes were falling from everywhere—14 of their first 21 attempts went in—and they set a new NBA playoff record with 11 made threes in the second quarter alone. Mitchell, to his credit, wasn’t just scoring early—he was creating, racking up five assists in that quarter.

Eight different Cavs hit a three in the first half. It was beautiful, unselfish basketball. Evan Mobley, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, Darius Garland—all were hitting shots. At one point, it felt like every trip down the court ended in a made three.

By halftime, Cleveland was in full control. The building was buzzing. The Heat looked like they were about to get run out of town.

But Then, the Heat Got Hot

Miami didn’t fold. That’s not who they are.

Erik Spoelstra made some smart adjustments. He inserted Davion Mitchell into the starting lineup to shake things up. And it worked. Davion had a monster fourth quarter—14 of his 18 points came in the final frame—and he brought real energy on both ends.

Tyler Herro was the offensive anchor all night for Miami. The guy was fearless. He dropped 33 points, slashing, pulling up, draining shots in traffic. Haywood Highsmith chipped in with 17 points and hit 5 of 6 from deep. The Heat clawed back and had the game down to just two points with four minutes to go.

That massive Cavs lead? Gone.

That playoff buzz in the arena? Nervous energy now.

Source: Cavs hold off Heat thanks to Donovan Mitchell’s big finish

Mitchell Answers the Call

Just when it seemed like everything might fall apart, Mitchell re-entered the game—and took it over like the superstar he is.

First, he hit a floater in the lane. Then, he pulled up and drained a deep three. Then another one—from 32 feet out. The crowd went nuts. Game. Set. Mitchell.

All four of Mitchell’s threes came in the fourth quarter. He was surgical, confident, calm—everything you want from your franchise player when the game’s on the line.

“Donovan knows when it’s time,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He doesn’t force things early. But when we need him, he shows up. He understands the moment now. That’s what veterans do.”

Mitchell is averaging 30 points so far in the playoffs, after averaging just 24 in the regular season—his lowest in five years. And even then, he took fewer shots than usual, choosing to step back a bit and let his younger teammates grow.

But now? It’s playoff time. His time.

Mobley Makes His Mark

Let’s not forget about Evan Mobley, who put together another strong performance with 20 points and six boards.

What won’t show up as clearly in the box score is how well he defended Bam Adebayo. The Heat’s big man had 14 rebounds but only shot 3-for-9 from the field. Mobley made his life difficult all night with his length, timing, and patience on defense.

And here’s the wild part—Thursday might be one of the biggest days of Mobley’s life. The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year Award will be announced, and he’s a finalist. If he wins, it’s not just a trophy—it’s a payday. His contract includes a bonus that would give him $45 million extra over five years, bumping the total from $224 million to $269 million.

“It’s definitely been a goal of mine,” Mobley said after the game. “But right now, all my focus is on the playoffs.”

Still, it’s a huge moment looming—and he absolutely deserves to be in that conversation.

What’s Next: Game 3 in Miami

So now it’s on to Miami for Game 3 this Saturday. And as much as the Cavs are feeling good right now, they know this series is far from over.

The Heat have grit. They fight. And if Herro keeps playing like this and Davion Mitchell continues to be a spark, Cleveland’s going to have to dig even deeper.

Still, Mitchell loves that challenge.

“I’d rather win a game like this than blow someone out,” he said with a smile. “This showed us who we are. We stuck together when it got tough. That’s what matters heading into Miami.”

For the Cavaliers, this was more than just another playoff win. It was a gut-check. A learning experience. And maybe—just maybe—a glimpse at something bigger brewing in Cleveland.

Because when you’ve got a closer like Donovan Mitchell on your side, you’re never really out of reach.

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