Cavaliers Sweeps Heat, Barkley Critiques Fans and Team

The Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, capped by a 138-83 blowout in Game 4 after a decisive 124-87 win in Game 3. Despite pregame assertions from Heat guard Tyler Herro about not giving up, the Heat were dominated from the opening quarter in Game 4, trailing 43-17 early and 72-33 at halftime. NBA analysts on TNT's 'Inside the NBA,' including Charles Barkley, harshly criticized the Heat's performance, with Barkley accusing the team of 'quitting at its finest.' Barkley and other commentators noted how the Heat, the eighth seed after a late-season slump and the loss of Jimmy Butler, were unable to put up a fight against the top-seeded Cavaliers. Additionally, Barkley renewed his long-running criticism of Miami Heat fans, calling the home environment at Kaseya Center 'not a tough environment' and recalling previous incidents where he labeled the fan base as fair-weather. The Cavaliers' strong rebounding and defense, highlighted by standout performances from Evan Mobley and Max Strus, contributed to the decisive series victory.