Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat Live Stream in the NBA Play-In Tournament
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat – Live Stream, Time & Game 1 Preview | NBA Playoffs 2025
The playoff intensity returns to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Miami Heat in Game 1 of their first-round series in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs.
The Cavs, who secured the No. 1 seed in the East after a strong regular season, are making their third straight playoff appearance. Game 1 tips off on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. local time, with fans in Cleveland eager to see their team start the postseason on a high note.
🏀 Game Details:
- Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat – Game 1
- Date: Sunday, April 20, 2025
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
- TV Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Ohio, TNT
- Radio: WMMS 100.7, WTAM 1100
- Betting Line: Cavaliers -12
- Over/Under: 215 points
🔍 Game Preview:
The Cavaliers enter the series healthy and in form—two major advantages heading into a playoff run. In their three regular-season matchups against the Heat, Cleveland came out on top every time.
This clash poses the age-old question: will elite offense overpower great defense?
The Cavaliers have built their identity around offense. They led the NBA with the best offensive rating this season (121), which also ranks as the second-highest offensive efficiency in league history. Their three-point shooting was deadly at 38.3%, and with the paint dominance of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, they ranked second in the league in paint FG percentage (60.7%).
The Miami Heat, meanwhile, relied heavily on their defense, finishing 9th in defensive rating. They were also the most zone-heavy team in the league, using zone defense on 14.6% of their defensive possessions, according to Synergy Sports. Interestingly, nearly half of the Cavaliers’ possessions against zone defenses this season came against Miami, which could play a strategic role in this series.
Since the midseason trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, Tyler Herro has stepped up as Miami’s primary offensive weapon. He finished the regular season as the team’s leader in scoring (23.9 PPG), assists (5.5 APG), and usage rate (28%). New addition Andrew Wiggins has also been a key piece, averaging 19 points over 17 games since his arrival.
How to Watch the NBA Without Cable
If you're looking to watch the game without a cable subscription, there are several streaming options available:
To watch the match via the official application of the competition:
✅ Final Thoughts:
With the top seed locked in, Cleveland looks to start their playoff campaign with a statement win. Their high-powered offense faces a Miami team that thrives on defensive discipline and tactical schemes. Can the Cavs break through Miami's zone? Or will the Heat pull off a surprise behind Herro and Wiggins?
Whatever happens, Game 1 is shaping up to be a fascinating showdown between two teams with very different strengths—and playoff basketball doesn't get much better than this