Game Night Observations: Donovan Mitchell's Superstar Quarter, A Cavalanche and Cleveland's Target

Fourteen wins stand between the Cavs and the Larry O'Brien Trophy

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Miami Heat 121-112 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 series lead.

Superstars are supposed to step up in the postseason. That’s how they earn that title, and that’s exactly what Donovan Mitchell did on Wednesday night.

Mitchell scored 17 of his 30 points in the final quarter to carry Cleveland to a win in a game that was closer than it should have been. The Cavs held a second-half lead as large as 19 points, but the Heat were able to cut it to just two when Mitchell checked back into the game for the final 4:26 of regulation.

The Cavs then scored on their next five possessions, with four of them being Mitchell baskets¹. He started with a floater, canned a midrange jumper on the right baseline and then buried back-to-back 3-pointers. At a time when the Cavs struggled to get defensive stops, every bucket was needed.

“He knows the moment,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said.