What happened: Max Strus pulled up from 25 feet and missed a three-point jumper with 2:16 left in the second quarter. The score sat at 44-52 at the time of the attempt. The miss kept Cleveland chasing as the half wound down.

Why it matters: Strus is one of Cleveland's primary floor-spacers, and his perimeter shooting is central to keeping the offense balanced when defenses key on the interior. A cold stretch from deep tightens the margin for error in a tight postseason possession battle. Every wasted three magnifies the deficit when the opponent is pulling away late in a quarter.

What to watch: Watch whether Cleveland adjusts shot selection to attack the rim heading into halftime. Strus's next look from outside will indicate whether the rhythm returns in the third.