Ty Jerome Scores Third-Most Points In Cavaliers Playoff Debut History

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Miami Heat in Game 1 on Sunday and Ty Jerome etched his name next to NBA legends LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. 

Jerome scored the third-most points in Cavaliers playoff debut history.

28 points for Ty Jerome in his playoff debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/0yr1IEsotk

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 21, 2025

You are doing something right if your name is next to James and Irving.

Jerome was terrific for the Cavaliers against the Heat in Game 1. He finished with 28 points, five rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes while shooting 10-of-15 from the field, 5-of-8 from 3 and 3-of-5 from the free-throw line. 

Jerome and the Cavaliers beat the Heat by 21 points. Cleveland blew the game open in the fourth quarter by outscoring Miami 34-21. 

Jerome is in his second season with the Cavaliers. He played 70 games during the regular season and was outstanding, averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 51.6% from the field, 43.9% from beyond the arc and 87.2% from the free-throw line. 

Cleveland lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. The franchise hasn’t been to the NBA Finals since 2018. James, of course, was still on the team back then. 

The Cavaliers looked like a legitimate title contender in Game 1 against the Heat. They are now 15 wins away from winning the championship.

There is a long way to go, but Cleveland looks focused and hungry. 

“It’s definitely special after last year, not being able to play the whole year, not being able to play the playoffs, just watching,” Jerome said. “It speaks to the time my teammates have empowered me and how my coaching staff empowered me since day one for sure.”

“We’ve got three guys who are very talented with the basketball,” Donovan Mitchell said. “So it’s like you kind of have to pick your poison in that regard. Tonight was just an example of it, but we got to do it again [in Game 2].”