Cavaliers Sweep Heat, Set Record, Face Pacers Next

The Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs, setting an NBA playoff record with a 122-point margin and achieving a 44% team three-point shooting rate. The team's dominant offense and relentless effort, led by head coach Kenny Atkinson, marks a significant identity shift beyond the LeBron James era. Key contributions from Donovan Mitchell, Jared Allen, and Max Strus have drawn praise from NBA analysts and former players, including Danny Green, who now considers Cleveland the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Earlier concerns about the team's three-point consistency have been dispelled by their strong postseason showing. The Cavaliers now advance to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Their performance has raised hopes for a deep playoff run among fans and experts.