Norman Powell: Heat's loss against Cavaliers was a 'very bad' one

"Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers were missing three All-Stars (to the Miami Heat's two), they powered through the Heat late and secured a 130-116 win on Wednesday. Miami played its worst stretch of basketball over the final 16 minutes, scoring just 24 points while shooting just 31.0 percent from the floor. As a result, Cleveland fought back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit and pounced on the reeling Heat."

""That's a very bad loss," he said after the game. "They're a good team, but when they're sitting their starters, that's when we've got to put our stamp on the game and not give them any life. So it's a bad loss, especially after the game we just had versus them. "But we got to turn the page quickly. We got an In-Season Tournament game against a Knicks team that's going to be hungry. They're playing well.""

"On the surface, the Heat were on pace to play one of their better offensive games of the season. Before their collapse, they were shooting 55.4 percent from the floor and 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc, though they only got to the free-throw line nine times (eight makes). Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell were the team's primary catalysts, though Pelle Larsson, Kel'el Ware and Simone Fontecchio had stretches of great play."

Cleveland overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to beat Miami 130-116, capitalizing on a Heat scoring drought in the final 16 minutes. Miami scored 24 points over that stretch and shot 31.0 percent in the run, falling from an earlier 55.4 percent overall rate and 12-of-27 from three. The Heat reached the free-throw line only nine times (eight makes). Cleveland's rally coincided with bench and role-player contributions, while Miami leaned on Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell with support from Pelle Larsson, Kel'el Ware and Simone Fontecchio. Miami will travel to face the New York Knicks next.

Read at Hot Hot Hoops - Miami HEAT NBA Blog