Heat play historically bad half in Game 4 vs. Cavaliers

The Cavs led by as many as 45 points in the first half Monday and went into halftime with a 39-point lead. That's the third-largest halftime lead in NBA playoffs history and the largest-ever halftime lead in an elimination game.

Cleveland's Jarrett Allen was an absolute monster in the first half, putting up a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while stealing the ball six times. It's the first time in the play-by-play era (since the 1997-98 season) a player has ever had more than five steals and a double-double in a single playoff half.

Not only are the Cavaliers torching the Heat, they're doing it on the road, following a 37-point victory in Game 3, and doing it without starting point guard Darius Garland, out with a toe injury. Sam Merrill started in Garland's place and hit an early three-pointer during Cleveland's hot start.

De'Andre Hunter led the Cavs with 18 first-half points off the bench, hitting three triples and getting another three points the hard way.

But it was the Cavaliers' defense that truly shut down the Heat, limiting All-Star Tyler Herro to four first-half points on 1-for-8 shooting and collecting 11 steals, six by Allen. The Heat talk extensively about "Heat Culture," keeping the team motivated and disciplined, but Cleveland's stifling defense seems to have broken the Heat's spirits and their culture.

Cleveland's victory appears to be a foregone conclusion as they'll advance to face the winner of the Indiana Pacers-Milwaukee Bucks series (Indiana leads 3-1). For a team that's been excellent all season, the first half of Game 4 was a new level of dominance.

After all, good teams win, and great teams blow their opponents out. Cleveland didn't waste any time doing so in Game 4.