HEAT ON A COLD DAY
With just 30 games to play in the season – and just five more meetings left against Western Conference clubs – the Cavaliers are reaching that point in the year where games become more meaningful. And on the final day of January, they begin that stretch with a battle against the team hot on their heels in the standings.
Despite a .500 mark over their last 10 games, the Wine & Gold still sit in the 5th spot in the East, one game ahead of their guests on Tuesday, the Miami Heat.
The Cavs washed the taste of an underwhelming road trip out of their mouths on Sunday night – smushing the shorthanded Clippers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in their return. Donovan Mitchell returned to the lineup and was effective in limited action, but it was Cedi Osman who stole the show coming off the bench – tying a career-high with 29 points on 7-for-7 shooting from deep to celebrate Turkish Heritage Night at the arena.
The Southeast Division-leading Heat (28-23) had won three straight before tripping on Sunday night in Charlotte. Miami led by nine late in the third quarter but went cold from there, and the 15-win Hornets surged past them in the period and never trailed in the fourth. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 28 points, but Terry Rozier led all scorers with 31 to sink Miami in the opener of its four-game trip.
After an extended run of misery against Miami – especially on South Beach – the Cavaliers have now won three of the last four in the series, with an average margin of victory of 21 points in those victories. In their lone meeting this year, Cleveland cruised to the 113-87 home win back in late November.
THE BUTLER
The Cavs won big over Miami earlier this season, but one factor in that decision was the absence of Jimmy Butler for Miami. He figures to be back in action for Round 2.
After missing last Tuesday’s game against Boston – (and disappointing a kid who flew 4,400 miles to see him before making it up to him times 10) – the tenacious 12th-year man from Marquette has returned on a heater, averaging 28.5 points on 68 percent shooting over his last two.
Butler hasn’t been in action in any of the Heat’s last three losses to Cleveland, but he has been on the floor for their last four wins – averaging 20.5ppg, 6.5rpg and 6.0apg with nine total steals over those games.
For most of the night, Isaac Okoro will get the unenviable task of trying to check Miami’s six-time All-Star.
Unless he has a big night, Okoro won’t be able to match Butler in the scoring column. The 3rd-year man from Auburn hasn’t notched double-figures in any of his last seven games. One of his double-figure scoring nights this year did, however, come against Miami – finishing with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting back in November.
MATCHUP IN THE MIDDLE
Although his offensive numbers have taken a slight dip this season, Jarrett Allen has been Mr. Dependable for the Cavaliers on both ends.
In 45 games this year, the former Longhorn is averaging 14.0ppg and 9.6rpg. His .633 field goal percentage is good for 4th-best in the East; his 19 double-doubles are 12th. He’s also established himself as one of the more defensively diverse centers in the league, and his numbers translate to wins. Cleveland is 14-5 in games which Allen notches a double-double.
Allen has scored in double-figures in each of the last five games, doubling-up twice over that stretch. He had a quiet night – eight points of 4-of-6 shooting with six boards – the last time Cleveland and Miami squared off.
The man he’ll see on Tuesday did not have a quiet night in Cleveland back in November – with Bam Adebayo leading Miami with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, albeit in a losing effort.
Offensively, the 6th-year man from Kentucky is having his best season, averaging 21.4ppg. Defensively, he’s always been elite.
In 46 games this year, Adebayo has already posted 19 outings of 20 points or more and another eight topping the 30-point mark. His 24 double-doubles rank 5th in the Conference.