Sometimes, series that end in four games can be closer and more competitive than the word “sweep” suggests. The Cleveland Cavaliers‘ sweep of the Miami Heat, which concluded with a 138-83 rout on Monday, was not one of those series.
Cleveland entered Monday’s Game 4 having outscored Miami by 24.9 points per 100 possessions in the first three games of the series. The team had stomped the Heat in Game 3 on Saturday, leading by as many as 40 points in a 124-87 rout. And it proceeded to crush them even more viciously on Monday.
The final margin of victory was 55 points, but you should know that the Cavaliers had a 70-25 lead late in the second quarter. You should know that the Cavs led by as many as 60 points in the fourth. They finished the series having outscored Miami by a 33.5 points per 100 possessions.
“This series was humbling,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters. “These last two games were embarrassing. But Cleveland’s also a very good team. We won whatever we won, they won 65 [regular-season games], we’re as irrational as we usually are, thinking that we have a chance to win this series and they showed us why we weren’t ready for that.”
This was not just a bloodbath. It was a bloodbath of historic proportions. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the pain that the Cavs inflicted on Miami.
Cavs’ sweep of Heat by the numbers
- Game 4 was the fourth-most lopsided game in NBA playoff history. (The three blowouts bigger than this one: The 2009 Denver Nuggets beat the New Orleans Hornets by 58 points, the 1956 Minneapolis Lakers beat the St. Louis Hawks by 58 points and the 1973 Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors by 56 points.)
- Game 4 was the single most lopsided series clincher in NBA history, eclipsing the 2015 Chicago Bulls‘ 54-point win against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of their first-round series.
- Game 4 was the most lopsided playoff victory in Cavaliers history, eclipsing their 44-point win against the Boston Celtics in Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals.
- Game 4 was the most lopsided playoff loss in Heat history, eclipsing their 37-point loss to the Cavs two days prior.
- In four games, Cleveland cumulatively outscored the Miami by 122 points. This is the largest cumulative point differential in any series in NBA history. (The previous record was held by the 2009 Nuggets, who outscored New Orleans by a total of 121 points in a five-game first-round series.)
- The Heat lost its two games at Kaseya Center by a total of 92 points. This is the worst home point differential any team has ever recorded in a playoff series. (The previous record was held by the 2017 Celtics, who needed three games to be outscored by 90 points against the Cavs.)
- Miami’s Tyler Herro was minus-44 in 31 minutes in Game 4. This is the worst plus-minus any player has recorded in a home playoff game in the play-by-play era. (Herro finished with four points on 1-for-10 shooting, including 1-for-9 from deep, and one assist.)
- Cleveland scored 73 bench points in Game 4. The Heat scored 83 total points.
- Miami scored 33 points in the first half. The Cavs scored 35 points less than 10 minutes into the game, and they scored 33 points on 3-pointers alone at halftime.
- Cleveland’s 39-point halftime lead was the third-largest in playoff history and the largest in any series clincher.
- The Heat finished with more turnovers (19) than assists (17).
- The Cavs’ Jarrett Allen recorded more steals (6) than the entire Miami team did (4).
- Darius Garland was sidelined due to a toe injury, but Cleveland’s starting five — Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Evan Mobley and Allen — outscored Miami by 18 points in 11 minutes in Game 4. That unit scored 178.3 points per 100 possessions and allowed 104.5 per 100, which means it had a plus-73.7 net rating.
- The Heat are one of two teams in NBA history to lose back-to-back home playoff games by 30-plus points. (The other one: That 2017 Boston team against Cleveland.)
- The Heat have now lost eight consecutive playoff games at home. The Philadelphia 76ers (1968-71) and Detroit Pistons (2008-present) are the only teams with longer such streaks — the Sixers lost nine straight, and the Pistons have lost nine straight and counting.
- This was the Cavs’ first series sweep without LeBron James on the roster.
Cleveland will face either the Indiana Pacers or Milwaukee Bucks in the second round.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Kyle Manzardo’s walk-off homer lifts Guardians over Twins after lengthy rain delay
CLEVELAND — Chris Paddack and the Minnesota Twins pitching staff were very good in a rain-delayed game on Tuesday night. The Cleveland Guardian pitchers were just a little better.Tanner Bibee and two high-leverage relievers shut down a hot Twins offense, and Bo Naylor and Kyle Manzardo each went deep, the latter with a walk-off home run, as the Guardians won 2-1 at Progressive Field. Manzardo’s solo homer off Louie Varland to start the ninth inning snapped the Twins’ four-game winning streak and evened the four-game series.AdvertisementThe teams waited out a 190-minute rain delay during which it only rained for roughly five minutes.“We were playing good baseball,” Twins shortstop Carlos Correa said. “It was a good game. We didn’t come up with a win. Come back (Wednesday) and keep up the same spirits. We’ve been playing great ball for the last […]
„Das darf bei uns nie passieren!“ – Wovor Kompany die Bayern-Stars warnt
Am Samstag in Leipzig kann Bayern-Trainer Vincent Kompany (39) den Gewinn der Deutschen Meisterschaft perfekt machen. Der Belgier legt jedoch Wert darauf, dass es nicht seine erste Meisterschaft wäre: Mit Burnley wurde er 2023 in der zweiten englischen Liga Erster.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Der Gewinn der Schale in seiner ersten Saison als Bayern-Coach wäre für den 39-Jährigen ein großer Erfolg, der auch deswegen gelingen würde, weil es dem Belgier zu Saisonbeginn schnell gelungen war, eine Wagenburg-Mentalität aufzubauen, die es so bei Bayern lange nicht gegeben hatte – weder unter Thomas Tuchel (51) noch unter Julian Nagelsmann (37). Er stellt die Spieler nicht vor der Gruppe bloß, übt scharfe Kritik nur in Einzelgesprächen. Was denkt er sich dabei?: Türkei-Star tickt komplett aus<!-->[-->Quelle: BILD/DAZN28.04.2025Kompany zeigte sogar Beispiele, wie Profis von anderen Teams mit öffentlichen Statements die eigene Mannschaft anzählten und damit den Teamgeist gefährdeten: […]
Fluminense x Aparecidense: só motivação não basta mais para evolução do tricolor; leia análise
Com força máxima, o Fluminense esperava encaminhar a classificação às oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil na última terça-feira. Mas não foi isso o que se viu no Maracanã. O time de Renato Gaúcho venceu a modesta Aparecidense-GO, da Série D do Campeonato Brasileiro, por 1 a 0, graças a um gol de Keno aos 35 minutos do 2º tempo e deixou o campo sob vaias da torcida. O desempenho da equipe não foi o único motivo que gerou preocupação aos torcedores: Germán Cano sofreu uma entorse no joelho esquerdo ainda nos primeiros minutos do duelo e fará exames nesta quarta-feira para saber a gravidade da lesão. Alvo definido: Com Ancelotti descartado, CBF tem Jorge Jesus como plano B pronto para ser acionadoSantos: Advogados de Caixinha notificam CBF por permitir que clube registre Cleber Xavier sem pagar rescisão de […]
Russell Westbrook’s vintage performance sparks Nuggets’ win over Clippers
<!--> Jamal Murray erupted for 43 points and Russell Westbrook chipped in 21 in his return from a foot injury, sparking the Nuggets' 131-115 win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday night that gave Denver a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.-->The Nuggets also got 23 from Game 4 hero Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic's 21st career playoff triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists).Again, Denver took a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarter only to watch the Clippers go on a furious run, like they did in Game 4 when they erased their entire deficit only to lose 101-99 when Gordon's buzzer-beater for the first walk-off dunk in NBA playoff history.ADVERTISEMENT <!-->This time, the Clippers went on a 17-4 run to cut their deficit to single digits at 116-107, but the Nuggets fended off another frenetic finish by […]
Trainersuche bei Leverkusen – Ex-Bayern-Star als Alonso-Nachfolger im Visier!
Nach der Niederlage im spanischen Pokalfinale gegen Barcelona (2:3 n. V.) kam Bewegung in die Trainer-Entscheidung bei Real Madrid. Vor allem das fiese Gesicht der Verlierer-Stars um den deutschen Verteidiger Antonio Rüdiger (32) mit insgesamt drei Roten Karten in den Schluss-Sekunden für Real beschleunigten den Trennungs-Prozess von Trainer Carlo Ancelotti (65). Am Sonntagabend hieß es aus der spanischen Hauptstadt, dass die Verkündung nur noch eine Frage von Stunden sei. In Leverkusen verfolgten sie die Entwicklung mit Spannung – je schneller es geht, desto besser. Der Grund: Xabi Alonso ist der Top-Favorit auf den Job bei Real. Der Bayer-Trainer kann seinen Wechsel-Wunsch mit den Bossen Simon Rolfes (43) und Fernando Carro (60) erst dann konkret besprechen, wenn Real seine Entscheidung öffentlich verkündet hat und offiziell mit Alonso in Kontakt tritt. Anschließend kann es schnell gehen bei Bayer mit der Alonso-Nachfolge.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Leverkusen: […]
Oilers win third straight, push Kings to brink of elimination: Game 5 takeaways
LOS ANGELES — Even as their confidence continued to build throughout the series, the Edmonton Oilers still needed to win a game at the Los Angeles Kings’ rink, where the home team has been dominant all season.On Tuesday night in a pivotal Game 5, it was the Oilers who proved dominant while continuing to come through in the clutch.AdvertisementThe Oilers controlled the first two periods and then put a dent in Darcy Kuemper’s stellar performance as Mattias Janmark’s goal at 7:12 of the third period snapped a tie game and lifted Edmonton to a 3-1 victory at Crypto.com Arena.Janmark buried a rebound that Kuemper spat out after stopping Viktor Arvidsson’s initial shot. It was Janmark’s second goal of the series after scoring in Game 1. The 32-year-old forward has 13 goals in 96 postseason contests.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sealed the victory with […]
Related
Kyle Manzardo’s walk-off homer lifts Guardians over Twins after lengthy rain delay
CLEVELAND — Chris Paddack and the Minnesota Twins pitching staff were very good in a rain-delayed game on Tuesday night. The Cleveland Guardian pitchers were just a little better.Tanner Bibee and two high-leverage relievers shut down a hot Twins offense, and Bo Naylor and Kyle Manzardo each went deep, the latter with a walk-off home run, as the Guardians won 2-1 at Progressive Field. Manzardo’s solo homer off Louie Varland to start the ninth inning snapped the Twins’ four-game winning streak and evened the four-game series.AdvertisementThe teams waited out a 190-minute rain delay during which it only rained for roughly five minutes.“We were playing good baseball,” Twins shortstop Carlos Correa said. “It was a good game. We didn’t come up with a win. Come back (Wednesday) and keep up the same spirits. We’ve been playing great ball for the last […]
„Das darf bei uns nie passieren!“ – Wovor Kompany die Bayern-Stars warnt
Am Samstag in Leipzig kann Bayern-Trainer Vincent Kompany (39) den Gewinn der Deutschen Meisterschaft perfekt machen. Der Belgier legt jedoch Wert darauf, dass es nicht seine erste Meisterschaft wäre: Mit Burnley wurde er 2023 in der zweiten englischen Liga Erster.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Der Gewinn der Schale in seiner ersten Saison als Bayern-Coach wäre für den 39-Jährigen ein großer Erfolg, der auch deswegen gelingen würde, weil es dem Belgier zu Saisonbeginn schnell gelungen war, eine Wagenburg-Mentalität aufzubauen, die es so bei Bayern lange nicht gegeben hatte – weder unter Thomas Tuchel (51) noch unter Julian Nagelsmann (37). Er stellt die Spieler nicht vor der Gruppe bloß, übt scharfe Kritik nur in Einzelgesprächen. Was denkt er sich dabei?: Türkei-Star tickt komplett aus<!-->[-->Quelle: BILD/DAZN28.04.2025Kompany zeigte sogar Beispiele, wie Profis von anderen Teams mit öffentlichen Statements die eigene Mannschaft anzählten und damit den Teamgeist gefährdeten: […]
Fluminense x Aparecidense: só motivação não basta mais para evolução do tricolor; leia análise
Com força máxima, o Fluminense esperava encaminhar a classificação às oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil na última terça-feira. Mas não foi isso o que se viu no Maracanã. O time de Renato Gaúcho venceu a modesta Aparecidense-GO, da Série D do Campeonato Brasileiro, por 1 a 0, graças a um gol de Keno aos 35 minutos do 2º tempo e deixou o campo sob vaias da torcida. O desempenho da equipe não foi o único motivo que gerou preocupação aos torcedores: Germán Cano sofreu uma entorse no joelho esquerdo ainda nos primeiros minutos do duelo e fará exames nesta quarta-feira para saber a gravidade da lesão. Alvo definido: Com Ancelotti descartado, CBF tem Jorge Jesus como plano B pronto para ser acionadoSantos: Advogados de Caixinha notificam CBF por permitir que clube registre Cleber Xavier sem pagar rescisão de […]
Russell Westbrook’s vintage performance sparks Nuggets’ win over Clippers
<!--> Jamal Murray erupted for 43 points and Russell Westbrook chipped in 21 in his return from a foot injury, sparking the Nuggets' 131-115 win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday night that gave Denver a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.-->The Nuggets also got 23 from Game 4 hero Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic's 21st career playoff triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists).Again, Denver took a 22-point lead early in the fourth quarter only to watch the Clippers go on a furious run, like they did in Game 4 when they erased their entire deficit only to lose 101-99 when Gordon's buzzer-beater for the first walk-off dunk in NBA playoff history.ADVERTISEMENT <!-->This time, the Clippers went on a 17-4 run to cut their deficit to single digits at 116-107, but the Nuggets fended off another frenetic finish by […]
Trainersuche bei Leverkusen – Ex-Bayern-Star als Alonso-Nachfolger im Visier!
Nach der Niederlage im spanischen Pokalfinale gegen Barcelona (2:3 n. V.) kam Bewegung in die Trainer-Entscheidung bei Real Madrid. Vor allem das fiese Gesicht der Verlierer-Stars um den deutschen Verteidiger Antonio Rüdiger (32) mit insgesamt drei Roten Karten in den Schluss-Sekunden für Real beschleunigten den Trennungs-Prozess von Trainer Carlo Ancelotti (65). Am Sonntagabend hieß es aus der spanischen Hauptstadt, dass die Verkündung nur noch eine Frage von Stunden sei. In Leverkusen verfolgten sie die Entwicklung mit Spannung – je schneller es geht, desto besser. Der Grund: Xabi Alonso ist der Top-Favorit auf den Job bei Real. Der Bayer-Trainer kann seinen Wechsel-Wunsch mit den Bossen Simon Rolfes (43) und Fernando Carro (60) erst dann konkret besprechen, wenn Real seine Entscheidung öffentlich verkündet hat und offiziell mit Alonso in Kontakt tritt. Anschließend kann es schnell gehen bei Bayer mit der Alonso-Nachfolge.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Leverkusen: […]
Oilers win third straight, push Kings to brink of elimination: Game 5 takeaways
LOS ANGELES — Even as their confidence continued to build throughout the series, the Edmonton Oilers still needed to win a game at the Los Angeles Kings’ rink, where the home team has been dominant all season.On Tuesday night in a pivotal Game 5, it was the Oilers who proved dominant while continuing to come through in the clutch.AdvertisementThe Oilers controlled the first two periods and then put a dent in Darcy Kuemper’s stellar performance as Mattias Janmark’s goal at 7:12 of the third period snapped a tie game and lifted Edmonton to a 3-1 victory at Crypto.com Arena.Janmark buried a rebound that Kuemper spat out after stopping Viktor Arvidsson’s initial shot. It was Janmark’s second goal of the series after scoring in Game 1. The 32-year-old forward has 13 goals in 96 postseason contests.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sealed the victory with […]
Be the first to leave a comment