EditorsNote: Several tweaks throughout, and details added in 8th graf
Rookie Kevin Porter Jr. scored a career-high 30 points to help the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome a 22-point, second-half deficit and rally past the visiting Miami Heat 125-119 in overtime on Monday night.
The Cavaliers, who are just 8-22 at home this season and had the worst record in the Eastern Conference entering the night, had lost eight straight games to the Heat, including 124-105 on Saturday in Miami. All but one of the eight losses were by double digits.
Cleveland's late-game heroics were led by Larry Nance Jr., who had 16 points, including 14 after the third quarter. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love, who missed two of the past three games due to a foot injury, returned and provided 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Miami is one of the best teams in the NBA at home with a 23-3 record but has gone 13-18 on the road. The Heat have lost six of their past seven road games, including three in a row.
Heat center Bam Adebayo narrowly missed a triple-double with 22 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. He also blocked four shots and had three steals but committed six turnovers. Goran Dragic also had 22 points for the Heat, and Kendrick Nunn added 21.
Five-time All-Star Jimmy Butler missed his second straight game for personal reasons. Miami was also without guard Tyler Herro and center Meyers Leonard, who each missed their eighth straight game due to ankle injuries.
Cavaliers guard Dante Exum left the game in the second quarter due to a left leg injury and did not return.
Miami led for all of the first three quarters, and was up 99-80 heading in the fourth. But Cleveland put together a 21-2 run in the fourth quarter, tying the score 104-104 on Porter's 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock with 4:55 left in regulation. Another Porter 3-pointer -- this one with 4:10 left in the fourth -- gave Cleveland its first lead of the game at 107-104.
Nunn's put-back with six seconds left tied the score 111-111, and the game went to overtime after Porter's baseline shot at the buzzer bounced off the front rim.
In overtime, Love passed to Porter for a dunk, giving Cleveland a 119-118 lead with 1:20 left. Darius Garland's jumper in the lane gave the Cavs a 121-118 advantage with 40 seconds left.
After Miami's Jae Crowder missed a corner 3-pointer, Love's put-back clinched Cleveland's upset win.
--Field Level Media
