Cavs-Heat Game 3 Halftime Dribbles

1. The Cavs could get nothing going early without the injured Darius Garland (toe), so coach Kenny Atkinson subbed in Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter. Boom. 18-0 run. Do they have Cavalanche machines in Miami?

2. Mostly, the Cavs used defense to take a 33-20 lead at the end of the first. They closed those 12 minutes on a 27-5 sprint. The Heat looked a little shellshocked, to say the least.

3. Cavs built the lead to 19 early in the second (39-20), but the Heat buried two quick threes. Timeout, Atkinson. Miami did manage to cut it to 11.

4. Even without Garland, the Cavs have been getting what they want offensively. That was highlighted by Jerome hitting Jarrett Allen for an alley-oop dunk in the second quarter, giving Cleveland a 50-32 lead.

5. It feels like Allen has about 10 massive dunks. That’s not the case — but it does seem that way. He’s just been assaulting the rim.

6. Overall, the Cavs have been destroying Miami in the paint. If that continues in the second half, winning won’t be an issue. But they will need to be careful. They allowed the Heat to cut a 19-point deficit to two in Game 2. Cleveland can’t afford to let up now.

7. By the way, the score is Cavs 62, Heat 42, with 24 minutes to go. Allen has 16. Hunter has 16. Donovan Mitchell only has six. That’s all a good sign.