The Miami Warmth matched up fairly properly with the Cleveland Cavaliers through the common season, successful the primary recreation between the 2 groups in December and narrowly dropping a 112-107 nail-biter on the Rocket Area final month. Of their first-round playoff collection, nonetheless, it was a unique story with Erik Spoelstra’s males failing to show up in a one-sided collection.
The Warmth didn’t put up a lot of a battle in opposition to the No. 1 seed Cavaliers, getting swept in historic style.
A 121-100 loss within the opening recreation may have been attributed to fatigue and drained legs after the play-in event. Miami had its finest efficiency of the collection in Sport 2, ultimately falling to a 121-112 loss.
A 37-point defeat within the third recreation and a lopsided 55-point loss in Sport 4 left many analysts questioning the place the Warmth go from right here.
Monday’s Blowout Sees Miami Warmth Make NBA Playoffs Historical past
Tyler Herro’s early 3-pointer gave Miami a 3-2 lead in Monday’s Sport 4 matchup, but it surely was all downhill from there. Spoelstra’s crew spiraled early on, giving up a whopping 43 factors to Cleveland within the first quarter. They trailed by 39 on the half, and at that stage, the second half was a mere formality.
The Cavs didn’t let up, scoring 66 factors within the remaining two quarters to win 138-83 and shut out the collection.
The 55-point win meant the Cavaliers outscored the Warmth 504-382 over 4 video games. That 122-point distinction is the best margin in a playoff collection in NBA historical past.
Cleveland gained this collection by 122 factors: Probably the most lopsided collection in NBA playoff historical past.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) April 29, 2025
The undesirable report was beforehand held by the New Orleans Hornets, who had no solutions for the Denver Nuggets in 2009. New Orleans would go on to lose by a mixed rating of 542-421 (121 factors) over 5 video games.
Monday’s 55-point loss on the Kaseya Middle was not the largest defeat in playoff historical past, but it surely was the biggest win by a crew in 16 years.
In 1973, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors by 56 factors (126-70), which ranks third on the record. Again once they have been in Minneapolis, the Lakers have been additionally accountable for one of many greatest wins in playoff historical past, defeating the St. Louis Hawks by 58 factors (133-75). The 58-point margin, which stays the playoff report, was matched by the Nuggets in 2009 once they beat New Orleans 121-63.
The Warmth might want to return to the drafting board this offseason after a disappointing end to the marketing campaign. With proficient stars like Herro, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins on the roster, there may be nonetheless loads of potential on this Miami lineup, although they may have to go star-hunting to claw their approach again into the grand scheme of issues this time subsequent 12 months.