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Cleveland by 39 at halftime in Miami: The 3rd-biggest lead after 2 quarters in NBA playoff history

Cleveland by 39 at halftime in Miami: The 3rd-biggest lead after 2 quarters in NBA playoff history | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) fouls Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) during the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

MIAMI (AP) — Cleveland took a 39-point halftime lead over Miami on Monday night in Game 4 of the teams’ Eastern Conference first-round series, the third-largest lead after two quarters in NBA playoff history.

The score at the break: Cavs 72, Heat 33.

Cleveland already owned the record for halftime lead — a 41-point edge at Boston, 72-31, on May 19, 2017. The Cavs threatened to break that; they led by as many as 45 points in the second quarter on Monday.

Detroit led Washington by 40 — 76-36 — for the second most-lopsided halftime lead in NBA playoff history, doing so on April 26, 1987.

De’Andre Hunter had 18 points at the break for Cleveland, which led 43-17 after one quarter. The Cavs had 33 points on 3-pointers in the first half; the Heat had 33 points from everywhere in the first half.

Cleveland by 39 at halftime in Miami: The 3rd-biggest lead after 2 quarters in NBA playoff history | iNFOnews.ca
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drives the ball past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Cleveland by 39 at halftime in Miami: The 3rd-biggest lead after 2 quarters in NBA playoff history | iNFOnews.ca
Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) looks to shoot in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill, back, during the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

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