The Cavaliers began the 2025 NBA playoffs with a statement in the form of a 121-100 win over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.
Now the top-seeded Cavs seek an encore against the No. 8 seed Heat in Game 2 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Rocket Arena.
Here’s how Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich think the game will unfold:
Heat vs. Cavs prediction: Who wins Game 2 tonight?
Lewis: The Cavs should maintain control of the series while playing at home, but the Heat are a really strong No. 8 seed after struggling this season and finally catching their stride a few weeks ago. While Ty Jerome can handle his own (he’ll talk the talk and walk the walk, as he did in Game 1), it’s unlikely the Cavs receive such a scorching-hot game from him, and Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland will need to carry the scoring load again. Cleveland will also need more from Evan Mobley, who did have a better second half after a very quiet first two quarters of the playoffs. I’ll take the Cavs to get to 2-0 in the series, but I think the Heat make this one more of a fight. Cavaliers 112, Heat 107
Ulrich: After Cavs guards Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome and Darius Garland combined for 85 points in Game 1, the Heat will devote even more energy toward limiting them. Look for All-Star forward Evan Mobley to bounce back from a lackluster 2025 postseason debut in which he scored nine points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field and grabbed seven rebounds after collecting zero boards in the first half. Heat forward Bam Adebayo (24 points on 10-of-22 shooting from the floor and nine rebounds) outplayed Mobley in Game 1, but Mobley typically responds to what coach Kenny Atkinson has described as his “neutral” outings with a more aggressive approach. The Cavs will need it, and this is a guess they’ll receive it. Cavaliers 115, Heat 104
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs vs Miami Heat predictions for NBA playoff series Game 2