On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a 3-0 series lead following their dominant 124-87 win over the Miami Heat. After the Cavs’ victory, the Heat are on the brink of losing the best-of-seven series to the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference. Miami built an early lead in the first quarter, but they fell apart, and Cleveland took full advantage.
From the middle of the first quarter until the end of the game, the Cavaliers were in control and led as much as 40 points. Cleveland had the upper hand in almost all areas of the floor. The team had 46 rebounds, while Miami finished with 29. The top team in the East also moved the ball with their 32 assists. The Heat, on the other hand, had 18.
Before the start of their game, however, Darius Garland’s comments in their Game 2 121-112 win. During his postgame interview, Garland revealed the Cavs’ strategy to exploit Tyler Herro’s defensive inconsistencies.
“Pick on Tyler Herro and take care of the ball,” Garland said. “Don’t play in tight spaces and pick on their weak defenders. Go after them.”
However, his comments were relayed to the Heat star, who clapped back and criticized Garland’s similar problems defensively.
“Somebody who doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking. He don’t play any defense. We’ll see that tomorrow.”
“Somebody who doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking. He don’t play any defense. We’ll see that tomorrow.”
– Tyler Herro on Darius Garland
(Via @flasportsbuzz ) pic.twitter.com/NLSiiX84bi
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 25, 2025
Unfortunately for Herro, he didn’t get to share the court with Garland. Before the start of the game, it was confirmed on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” that the Cavaliers’ star guard was ruled out due to a toe injury. Following that, NBA legend Charles Barkley called out the two-time All-Star for talking smack and not playing after.
“You gotta be kidding me, right?” Barkley said. “First of all, you don’t say that. You gotta play.
Charles Barkley calls out Darius Garland
"You gotta be kidding me right? You don't say that. You gotta play"
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 26, 2025
“You ain’t got to guard Tyler Herro. And listen, Herro, he may not be a great defender but he had 34 points. Don’t act like he’s a bum.”
Heat coach shrugged off the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star’s comments
Even though many credit Miami’s head coach, Erik Spoelstra, as one of the best in the league, he couldn’t do anything to stop the bleeding in Game 3. After their loss, Spoelstra was asked about the back-and-forth comments from the Cleveland Cavaliers star and his star guard.
The two-time NBA champion shrugged it off and said the Cavs’ lead in the series is what led to the verbal exchange.
“Whatever. I think it was addressed yesterday. They won two games, so they’re talking s***. It is what it is,” Heat’s coach said.
Asked Erik Spoelstra about Darius Garland’s comments regarding their game plan to “pick on” Tyler Herro.
"Whatever….They won two games, so they're talking shit. It is what it is." #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/IfcThgVxeg
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) April 26, 2025
Since he took over the head coaching duties in 2008, Spoelstra has only been swept once in the postseason. That was in the 2021 playoffs in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers are a different opponent, but the longtime leader of the Heat will try to get a win and protect their home floor in the next contest.
Game 4 will be on Monday at the Kaseya Center.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
