The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t just walk into Miami — they stormed in like a team on a mission. While fans were busy analyzing quotes and side-eyeing interviews, the Cavs had one thing on their mind: make a statement so loud even South Beach couldn’t drown it out. If you thought the drama between Darius Garland and Tyler Herro would be the headline, well, Cleveland made sure the scoreboard did all the talking instead.

Before Game 3, all eyes were on Darius Garland’s subtle jab at Tyler Herro. Garland pointed out that Miami’s defense had soft spots — and wasn’t shy about mentioning Herro by name. Usually, that’s enough to light a fire under an opposing player or maybe even change a few game plans. Not this time.

The Cavaliers didn’t come out hunting Tyler Herro. They didn’t circle his name on the whiteboard or build a strategy around him. Instead, they played the exact same team-first, ball-movement-heavy style that got them this far. Garland’s comments? They were just noise. The Cavs didn’t flinch.

Tyler Herro, for his part, tried to spin some motivation into his postgame quotes. “We’re not going out 4-0,” Herro insisted after the game. But it was hard to buy into the fighting spirit when Miami looked absolutely outclassed. Herro himself couldn’t find any rhythm, and without Jimmy Butler’s leadership on the floor, the Heat’s offense resembled a ship lost at sea.

Cleveland didn’t need to play mind games. They just moved the ball, shared the spotlight, and watched as Miami collapsed under the weight of real playoff basketball.
Whatever bad blood people expected from Garland’s comments simply never showed up. The Cavs weren’t worried about one guy — they were too busy dismantling an entire team.

Kenny Atkinson Reveals the Real Game Plan Against Miami

After the dust settled on Cleveland’s 124-87 demolition job, Kenny Atkinson made one thing clear. This wasn’t about targeting a single player, but about sticking to the plan.

“We do a lot of stuff,” Atkinson said, downplaying any idea that Garland’s comments changed their approach. “But we’re a ball movement team.“

That ball movement absolutely shredded Miami’s defense. Every drive, every extra pass, every well-timed cut — it was death by a thousand clean looks. Cleveland didn’t single out Herro because they didn’t need to. They had the full Heat roster spinning in circles.

The stats tell the whole story: 46-29 rebounding advantage for Cleveland.

The Cavs’ approach was brutally simple: Move the ball, attack early, control the glass, and make Miami chase shadows. If Kenny Atkinson had been planning some Tyler Herro revenge game, he forgot to tell the rest of the team — because what they executed was pure, system-driven destruction.

Even Donovan Mitchell, who shot a rough 4-for-14, didn’t force things. Cleveland’s depth stepped up, with Jarrett Allen and De’Andre Hunter leading a well-balanced, professional kill job. Atkinson trusted the system, not the drama. And in the playoffs, systems beat soundbites every time.

Darius Garland’s comments? Tyler Herro’s defiance? Kenny Atkinson’s cool-headed planning? They all played their parts off the court.

But on the court, it was simple: the Cavaliers were just better—by a mile.

While Miami scrambled for answers and clung to pride, Cleveland was already thinking bigger. They’re not here for social media drama or revenge tours — they’re here to win, move on, and make a real run. And if the Heat don’t find a miracle by Game 4, Cleveland’s going to be dancing into the second round before Miami even knows what hit them.