Cavaliers Bench Shines in Blowout Win Over Heat

Cleveland's reserves led the way in a 149-128 victory over Miami on Friday night.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Cleveland Cavaliers earned a decisive 149-128 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday, led by a dominant performance from their bench players. Max Strus scored 29 points off the bench for Cleveland, hitting 8 three-pointers, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. paced the Heat reserves with 20 points. Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen returned to the starting lineup after missing 10 games and contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Why it matters

The win continued Cleveland's strong play as they battle for position in the Eastern Conference Play-In standings, where the Heat, Hornets, and Magic are all jockeying for position behind the Pistons. The Cavaliers' bench production was a key factor, outscoring Miami's reserves 72-46.

The details

The Cavaliers jumped out to a 40-point first quarter and led by as many as 23 points in the first half. While Miami made a push in the third quarter, Cleveland maintained control throughout and cruised to the 21-point victory. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 28 points, while all but one Miami player scored in double figures.

  • The Cavaliers and Heat last met on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with Miami defeating Cleveland 117-100 to snap the Cavaliers' 4-game win streak.
  • Friday's game was the final regular-season matchup between the two teams.

The players

Max Strus

A reserve guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who scored a team-high 29 points off the bench, including 8 three-pointers.

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

A reserve forward for the Miami Heat who led the team's bench with 20 points in 21 minutes of play.

Jarrett Allen

The starting center for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with right knee tendonitis and contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Donovan Mitchell

The leading scorer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, pouring in 28 points in the victory.

Bam Adebayo

The starting center for the Miami Heat, who was matched up against Jarrett Allen in the paint.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong after that loss earlier in the week. The bench really stepped up and set the tone for us tonight.”

— Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers Guard

What’s next

The Cavaliers will begin a lengthy road trip on Monday, March 31st, when they travel to face the Utah Jazz. Cleveland will then visit the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors before returning home to host the Indiana Pacers.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' bench production was the key to their dominant victory over the Heat, outscoring Miami's reserves by 26 points. This type of balanced scoring effort will be crucial as Cleveland jockeys for position in the crowded Eastern Conference Play-In race down the stretch.