Heat vs. Cavaliers Takeaways: Heat Suffer Disappointing Loss Behind Star Performance From Donovan Mitchell

The Miami Heat fell short to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday in a disappointing 111-99 loss.

Here’s a look at five major takeaways:

1. Kevin Love is a tremendous asset outside of scoring.

Love is a veteran leader in the locker room, but he further proved his worth on the floor against the Cavaliers. He finished the night with 14 points along with 12 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a block. The 35-year-old forward shot the ball efficiently while recording one turnover.

2. Miami displayed a balanced offensive attack.

Six of the Heat’s eight players who received playing time finished with double-digit scoring. This strategy should come as no surprise because of the absence of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Coach Erik Spoelstra is accustomed to finding ways to win with different lineups but couldn’t get it done tonight.

3. Both teams showed sloppy play.

Miami and Cleveland found success in certain areas, but as a whole, they performed carelessly. They combined for more than 30 turnovers and 40 personal fouls, which is disappointing for these Eastern Conference contenders. Not to mention, the organizations shot less than 70 percent from the free-throw line.

4. Donovan Mitchell needs assistance on offense.

The superstar guard led Cleveland in points, rebounds, and assists in the decisive victory. Mitchell is among the players in trade rumors this year, with teams such as the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets showing interest. Outside of him, Cleveland's second-highest scorer was Darius Garland with 18.

5. Duncan Robinson could not land a shot.

Robinson is often viewed as the Heat’s sharpshooter who delivers in clutch moments. However, in tonight’s showcase, he recorded one point on 0 of 7 shooting along with zero made three-pointers. His inefficiency was a major cause of their 12-point defeat.

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Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Inside the Heat.

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