Norman Powell: Heat's loss against Cavaliers was a 'very bad' one - Hot Hot Hoops

Cavaliers Heat (Mandatory Credit: Marta Lavandier/AP Photo)

Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers were missing three All-Stars (to the Miami Heat’s two), they powered through the Heat late and secured a 130-116 win on Wednesday.

Miami played its worst stretch of basketball over the final 16 minutes, scoring just 24 points while shooting just 31.0 percent from the floor. As a result, Cleveland fought back from a 14-point third-quarter deficit and pounced on the reeling Heat.

While neither team was healthy, there’s no doubt that it was a bad loss, especially in Norman Powell’s mind.

“That’s a very bad loss,” he said after the game. “They’re a good team, but when they’re sitting their starters, that’s when we’ve got to put our stamp on the game and not give them any life. So it’s a bad loss, especially after the game we just had versus them.

“But we got to turn the page quickly. We got an In-Season Tournament game against a Knicks team that’s going to be hungry. They’re playing well.”

“That’s a very bad loss. They’re a good team but when they’re sitting their starters, that’s when we have to put our stamp on the game… it’s a bad loss especially after the game we just had versus them, but we got to turn the page.”

— Norman Powell after Heat lose to Cavs pic.twitter.com/Q9NzBC6j23

— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) November 13, 2025

On the surface, the Heat were on pace to play one of their better offensive games of the season. Before their collapse, they were shooting 55.4 percent from the floor and 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc, though they only got to the free-throw line nine times (eight makes).

Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell were the team’s primary catalysts, though Pelle Larsson, Kel’el Ware and Simone Fontecchio had stretches of great play.

Heat will face another tough opponent who’s compromised:

Even weeks into the season, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team that’s truly 100 percent.

They will hit the road to face the New York Knicks on Friday, but possibly without Jalen Brunson, who injured his ankle in Wednesday’s 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic. Brunson suffered his injury in the fourth quarter and was seen walking out of the arena in a walking boot while on crutches.

The Knicks have been one of the league’s best offenses. Miami did a good job slowing them down in their lone meeting on Oct. 26, despite Brunson scoring a season-high 37 points.

Somehow, someway, Miami may have to psychologically trick themselves into believing Brunson’s still playing so there’s not any let-up. I am half-joking, of course, but it has typically struggled against shorthanded teams in the past and looked complacent once after building up its lead Wednesday.

We’ll see what these next two games in New York has in store, presumably without both Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, who missed his fifth-straight with a toe injury.

Norman Powell: Heat’s loss against Cavaliers was a ‘very bad’ one – Hot Hot Hoops

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