The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of completing a first-round sweep as they face the Miami Heat in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference playoff matchup at Kaseya Center, carrying the momentum of a dominant 124–87 victory in Game 3 that left little doubt about their control over the series. Cleveland has executed its game plan with surgical precision throughout the series, using its suffocating defense anchored by newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and the relentless scoring prowess of Donovan Mitchell to overwhelm a shorthanded and inconsistent Heat team. Mitchell has been nothing short of spectacular, averaging over 30 points per game and consistently breaking down Miami’s defensive coverages with his explosive first step and perimeter shooting, while Mobley has anchored the paint, neutralizing Bam Adebayo’s impact around the rim and deterring easy drives. The Cavaliers’ depth has proven to be a major asset as well, with De’Andre Hunter providing reliable scoring and perimeter defense, and backup guard Ty Jerome delivering quality minutes that have helped maintain Cleveland’s high energy when the starters rest. Meanwhile, the Heat have been plagued by injuries and inconsistency, with key players Terry Rozier and Kevin Love sidelined and limited contributions outside of Tyler Herro, who has battled valiantly to keep Miami competitive but has not received the needed support from a depleted supporting cast. Miami’s offense has struggled mightily to create clean looks against Cleveland’s swarming defense, and the Heat’s perimeter shooting has been erratic at best, making it difficult to keep pace with a Cavaliers team that moves the ball crisply and capitalizes on defensive lapses.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson’s strategy of pressuring the Heat’s ball-handlers and forcing difficult shots has paid off handsomely, and Cleveland’s collective length and athleticism have made scoring in the half-court an uphill battle for Miami all series long. Heading into Game 4, the Cavaliers are favored by 9 points, a reflection of both their dominance thus far and the growing sense that the Heat may be running out of answers. For Miami to stave off elimination, they will need an extraordinary effort from Bam Adebayo on both ends, along with a breakout performance from someone beyond Herro, whether it’s Caleb Martin, Jaime Jaquez Jr., or another bench contributor who can help stretch the floor and alleviate the offensive burden. For Cleveland, the focus will be on maintaining their defensive intensity, continuing to push the tempo when opportunities arise, and closing out possessions with strong rebounding to prevent second-chance points. Should the Cavaliers maintain their composure and execute at the level they have shown throughout the first three games, they will likely punch their ticket to the second round and position themselves as a legitimate threat to make a deeper postseason run. With the Heat facing an elimination game in front of their home crowd and the Cavaliers smelling blood in the water, Game 4 promises to be a battle of desperation against dominance, with Cleveland heavily favored to come out on top.