The Heat came back from a double-digit deficit to take the lead in the 4th quarter, but the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers clamped down on defense late to win 112-107.

Bam Adebayo played his best and most inspired game of the season for Miami, scoring 34 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists.

But it wasn’t enough for the Heat, who were missing 5 key players including leading scorer Tyler Herro.

Miami led 107-106 with 2:55 left. They wouldn’t score again.

Duncan Robinson’s would-be game-tying 3-pointer with :17 left was waved off because he stepped out of bounds after catching the perfect cross court inbounds pass from .

The Heat had no timeouts left after calling their last one on the inbounds play just before Duncan’s shot, so they couldn’t challenge the call.

Donovan Mitchell cored 26 points, and Darius Garland dished out 10 assists for the Cavs, who won for the 12th straight game. They are the first NBA team to clinch a playoff berth.

Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter added 16 points apiece for the Cavs.

Besides Herro, (illness) the Heat were already playing without Jaime Jaquez Jr (sprained ankle), Nikola Jovic (broken hand), Kel’el Ware (sprained knee) and Andrew Wiggins (sprained ankle) before Herro came down with a head cold in the past 24 hours.

In his first game back in Cleveland since signing with the Heat two years ago, Kevin Love got a standing ovation from the Cavs fans. Love won an NBA title in 2016 with the Cavs.

The Heat host Minnesota on Friday, the first of five straight home games.

——- ‘LIVE’ Instant Reaction from Jim GRIES Grieshaber ——-

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