MIAMI — MIAMI — The Cavaliers didn’t just sweep the Heat in Game 4, they absolutely, and totally, demolished Miami to historic proportions via a 138-83 dismantling.
That win sends the Cavaliers to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they await either the Indiana Pacers or the Milwaukee Bucks
After crushing the Heat in Game 3 — and doing so without All-Star guard Darius Garland amid his feud with Tyler Herro — the Cavs ended their first-round playoff series early and became the only team in the East to pull off a first-round sweep.
Garland missed Game 4 as well, but it didn’t matter. The Cavs embarrassed the Heat on their home court. The 55-point loss is the worst in Heat playoff history — since Game 3 of this series.
Here’s how Game 4 unfolded through our live updates and analysis.
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Cavaliers beat Heat in game 4, sweep series in NBA playoffs
The complete dismantling of the Heat is complete. The Cavs won Game 4, 138-83, to pull off the sweep. The worst loss in Heat playoff history in Game 3 was followed by a much, much, much worse version in Game 4. The Cavs led by as many as 60 points in the final minutes.
Cavs stats vs. Heat
Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points to lead the Cavs, while Evan Mobley scored 17. Jarrett Allen contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds and six steals. Then there was bench, as DeAndre Hunter scored 19 points and Ty Jerome added 18 points. Hunter and Jerome were a combined 6-of-9 shooting 3-pointers. The Cavs shot 54.7% from the floor (47-of-86), 46.8% on 3s (22-of-47) and 88.0% from the foul line (22-of-25).
Javonte Green leads Cavaliers bench in fourth quarter
The bench was more than the combined 37 points from Hunter and Jerome. Cavs reserve guard Javonte Green needed just 12 minutes of action off the bench to score 11 points Monday night. He helped Cleveland’s bench score an amazing 73 points.
Ty Jerome hits half-court shot at third-quarter buzzer; Cavs up 48 entering fourth quarter
Just to add insult to injury, Ty Jerome just buried a half-court shot at the third-quarter buzzer to make it 111-63 Cavs.
Tyler Herro is an almost unheard-of -44 tonight. That’s kind of difficult to do at the professional level.
Cavaliers lead by 45 in third quarter of Game 4 vs Heat
If you thought the Heat might make this game at least marginally more watchable in the second half, you were wrong!
The Cavs continue to simply crush Miami. Cleveland now leads 98-53 with about five minutes left in the quarter. Sam Merrill hit back-to-back 3s, and the onslaught has continued.
Also Ty Jerome just asked for a coaches’ challenge, and got it, while leading by 45 points, which has to be some kind of a record.
Cavs lead Heat by 39 points at halftime of Game 4
The Cavs are making a statement against the Heat, now up 72-33 at halftime. Tyler Herro, who spoke quite a bit of trash talk during this series, is visibly frustrated as the Heat continue to be out-classed and completely destroyed by the Cavs.
It’s the third-largest lead at halftime in NBA playoff history.
De’Andre Hunter has a game-high 18 points at halftime (or more than half of Miami’s entire total). Donovan Mitchell (13 points, three assists), Jarrett Allen (12 points, 11 rebounds, six steals) and Evan Mobley (10 points, five rebounds) are all already in double figures.
Herro is 1-for-8 for a ridiculous -36 in one half of basketball. Darius Garland isn’t playing, but he doesn’t need to, either, to have the last laugh.
If the NBA had a mercy button, it looks like the Heat would be hitting it right about now.
Cavaliers up 40 over Heat in Game 4
The Cavs are borderline embarrassing the Heat now. It’s 63-23 with 4:22 left in the second quarter. It’s almost halftime, and Miami has only hit nine shots.
A 40-point deficit in the second quarter of a playoff game between, allegedly, two professional basketball teams is pretty wild.
Cavs, Heat Game 4 update.
It’s 55-21 Cavs. Sheesh.
Cavs lead Heat by 26 points after first quarter
Running out of words to describe this effort by the Heat, who have either quit or are being over-matched by a ridiculous amount. The Cavs have over-run Miami and now lead 43-17 at the end of the first quarter.
Donovan Mitchell had a 13 point quarter. Jarrett Allen pretty much was given anything he wanted in the paint. Tyler Herro is 1-for-5 from the floor and somehow has a -26 +/- in only 11:23 of playtime.
Cavs, Heat Game 4 score: Cleveland destroying Miami
There isn’t much to say about this one. The Heat look like they’re already halfway to Cancun for the offseason. It’s 30-8 Cavs with 3:17 left in the first quarter.
This is a “yikes” type performance for the Heat. Jarrett Allen has 10 points, six rebounds and four steals. Donovan Mitchell is up to eight points and three assists.
The Heat are 3-for-14 from the floor. They look flat on offense and over-matched on defense. Allen, especially, is having his way inside the paint.
The Heat might not beat their 87-point performance from Game 3, which was ugly enough.
Cavaliers routing Heat again in NBA playoffs
It’s getting ugly in Miami — again.
With their playoff lives on the line, the Heat offense is again non-existent, and the Cavs have opened up a 20-5 lead midway through the first quarter.
Cavs, Heat Game 4 score: Cavaliers start hot in Miami
The Cavs are running all over the Heat early en route to 12-3 lead less than three minutes into the first quarter.
Jarrett Allen already has four points, a rebound, an assist and three steals. Donovan Mitchell has five early points and a nifty assist to Sam Merrill for a 3-pointer in which Mitchell drove to the rim and then found Merrill in the corner while passing around two Heat defenders.
Below is some pregame information.
Cavs injury report; Darius Garland out
All-Star guard Darius Garland, who missed Game 3, will also be unavailable for Game 4 with a big toe sprain. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson noted that Garland did “very little” in practice, and Garland wasn’t seen on the court during warmups.
Atkinson did add that the Cavs being up 3-0 wasn’t a factor into the decision.
Cleveland Cavaliers win Games 1, 2, 3 vs Miami Heat; Looking back at how Cavs playoffs started
Here is our coverage from Game 1 in Cleveland:
Here is our coverage from Game 2 in Cleveland:
Here is our coverage from Game 3 in Miami:
Evan Mobley wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Cavs forward Evan Mobley became the first player in franchise history to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Cleveland Cavaliers 2025 NBA playoff schedule
Here are the dates and times for the Cavs’ first-round series:
- Game 1: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, April 20 – Cavs 121, Heat 100
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23 – Cavs 121, Heat 112
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, – Cavs 124, Heat 87
- Game 4: Cavs at Heat | 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 28 | TNT
- Game 5: Heat at Cavs | TBD time Wednesday, April 30 (if necessary) | TBD TV
- Game 6: Cavs at Heat | TBD time Friday, May 2 (if necessary) | TBD TV
- Game 7: Heat at Cavs | TBD time Sunday, May 4 (if necessary) | TBD TV
NBA playoff bracket: Eastern Conference
Note: If the Cavs were to advance past the first round, they would face the winner of Pacers versus Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Cleveland Cavs vs. Miami Heat predictions: Who wins NBA Eastern Conference first-round series?
Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich each see the Cavs winning the first-round series. Read more here on why and in how many games.
Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream Cavs vs Heat in Game 4 of first round?
Game 4 can be watched nationally on TNT and locally on the FanDuel Sports Network. It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
