Cleveland Cavaliers’ Ty Jerome Shines in Playoff Debut Against Miami Heat
When the Cleveland Cavaliers gathered for the start of this season, there was a palpable sense of surprise at the boldness of Ty Jerome. Despite being a career role player who had only managed 15 minutes of play last year due to a severe ankle injury, Jerome was not shy about making his presence known.
“He was talking his s—,” recalled Cavs All-Star Darius Garland. “[I was like] ‘slow down buddy’.”
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson added, “[The players] laughed at him because first he was this bit player and he still doing the swag stuff. And they’re kind of like ‘who’s this guy think he is?'”
Fast forward to Sunday evening, and the Miami Heat got a taste of Jerome’s confidence firsthand. Jerome delivered a stunning performance, scoring 28 points in just 26 minutes off the bench during his first-ever playoff game. His efforts were pivotal in the fourth quarter, where he either scored or assisted on 24 consecutive Cavs points, transforming a tight contest into a commanding 121-100 victory, giving the Cavs a 1-0 series lead.
This game was a showcase of the Cavs’ guard strength. Donovan Mitchell and Garland both appeared rejuvenated after a week of rest, executing a clear strategy to penetrate the Heat’s interior defense. Mitchell scored 30 points, making 9-of-10 on 2-point shots, while Garland contributed 27 points, hitting five 3-pointers and dishing out five assists.
Jerome himself was on fire from beyond the arc, making 5-of-8 3-pointers, including three during the decisive fourth-quarter run that dismantled the Heat’s zone defense. Jerome, Garland, and Mitchell became just the fourth guard trio in NBA playoff history to each score 25 or more points in a game.
For Jerome, the night was even more special as he was named a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year earlier in the evening. Reflecting on his journey, Jerome said, “It’s definitely special after last year, not being able to play the whole year, not being able to play the playoffs, just watching. It speaks to the time my teammates have empowered me and how my coaching staff empowered me since day one for sure.”
The Cavs seemed to have a game plan targeting Heat guard Tyler Herro, frequently creating matchups to isolate him and then attacking. Jerome, who made 10-of-15 shots, often celebrated after scoring on Herro.
“This is who Ty is. This is not a shock,” said Mitchell, who has known Jerome since they played together on an AAU team at eight years old. “I know everybody’s going to react like this is a shock that he’d been doing this for us all year.”
Herro, who had been stellar in the play-in tournament, scoring 38 points in Chicago and 30 in Atlanta, managed 17 points in the first half on Sunday. However, the Cavs’ defense clamped down in the second half, limiting his opportunities and ensuring he couldn’t get open looks. He finished with 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting.
Bam Adebayo led the Heat with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Heat guard Davion Mitchell added 18 points off the bench. Despite their efforts, the Heat’s guards were outmatched in Game 1.
“We’ve got three guys who are very talented with the basketball,” Mitchell said. “So it’s like you kind of have to pick your poison in that regard. Tonight was just an example of it, but we got to do it again [in Game 2].”
- Jerome’s playoff debut: 28 points in 26 minutes
- Mitchell and Garland combine for 57 points
- Cavs’ guard trio makes NBA playoff history
- Herro held to 21 points on 7-of-18 shooting
Originally Written by: Brian Windhorst
