The Cleveland Cavaliers took a dagger to the heart as the Miami Heat defeated them in overtime by two points on a buzzer-beater by Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins scored off of an inbound by Nikola Jovic with no time left to secure the victory. The shot came after Donovan Mitchell tied the game with a 3.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to contend for the Eastern Conference crown this season. The Miami Heat are expected to be a play-in team at best. After the game between the two Monday night, it could have been projected as an early vision of the conference finals.
The Miami Heat won the game in overtime 140-138 in stunning fashion. It was a game that both teams deserved to win and neither team deserved to lose.
“An instant-classic regular-season game for early November,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game. “It was a classic game,” Spoelstra said. “Great game to be a part of. It’s better when you get the win.”
The Heat's Andrew Wiggins scored a dunk off of a sideline inbounds pass from Nikola Jovic with no time remaining in overtime to claim the improbable victory.
The play started with 0.4 seconds remaining and was only after Donovan Mitchell scored a 3-point field goal to tie the game with less than one tick of the clock remaining in the overtime period.
“Look, I’ve had that play listed on my card for four years,” Spoelstra said of the inbounds play diagrammed in the final huddle by assistant coach Chris Quinn.
Jovic said Wiggins was wide open, which he was, and all he had to do was get him the ball. Wiggins said the pass was perfect. It was in front of him as he cut through the paint to grab the pass and slam it home.
“He was really open,” said Jovic.
“A perfect pass,” Wiggins said, “and I was there to finish the job.”
Cleveland lost the game to a Miami club that played without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. Norman Powell led the Heat with 33 points. Wiggins chimed in with 23 points and second-year center Kel'el Ware had a double-double with 14 points and 19 big rebounds.
“So many guys had their fingerprints on this game,” Spoelstra said. “l love the versatility of his offensive talent.”
Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 28 points, none more important than his last three which could have delivered a double overtime period that never came to fruition.
The Heat took an early lead in the overtime period as Jaime Jaquez, Jr. scored on a pair of free throws and Ware scored on a put back to give Miami a 132-129 lead.
Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers answered with a two-point basket to cut the lead to one, but missed the accompanying free throw which could have tied the game as he drew the foul.
The teams then traded hoops. With Miami up one, Jaquez scored on a runner in the lane to give Miami a 136-133 lead.
The Cavaliers appeared to have tied the game with a 3-pointer, but Cleveland called timeout before the shot and the field goals was wiped off the board.
The same teams will play again on Wednesday in Miami where the Heat are a perfect 5-0 on the season.