CLEVELAND, Ohio — At halftime inside the Kaseya Center, the Cavaliers delivered a commanding message: their depth and defense were simply on another level.

Leading 62-42, the Cavs showcased why their second unit might be the deadliest in the playoffs — not a step back from the starters, but a fresh, relentless second punch.

Even with Darius Garland sidelined by a toe injury and Donovan Mitchell managing just six points through two quarters, the Cavs still dominated.

The first-half surge was sparked by an 18-0 “Cavalanche,” engineered largely by Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter. Hunter, often critiqued for his rebounding in past seasons, finished the half with 16 points on 4 of 5 shooting, 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 6 for 6 at the line, plus three boards, second on the team behind Jarrett Allen (seven).

Jerome, meanwhile, didn’t light up the scoreboard but operated like a quarterback with complete command of the offense. His seven first-half assists, two steals and an eye-popping plus-27 plus-minus reflected a player who controlled the tempo and shredded Miami’s defensive rotations.

Jarrett Allen’s performance was a masterclass in movement and timing. Allen went 7 for 7 from the field, cashing in easy looks thanks to the Cavs’ cutting-heavy offense. His 16 points are already the most points he’s had in this series.

Allen’s relentless motor wore down the Heat’s bigs, exploiting the gaps in Miami’s switching defense and fueling Cleveland’s massive 32-8 advantage in paint points.

But if Cleveland’s offense was sharp, the defense was ruthless.

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Kenny Atkinson’s group forced 10 Heat turnovers by halftime, converting them into 14 points — seven of which came in transition, where Cleveland’s athleticism and anticipation shined.

Max Strus, playing with a chip on his shoulder against his former team, took on Tyler Herro from the opening tip and made life uncomfortable for the Heat guard. Herro was just 2 of 6 for seven points in the first half.

When Strus hit the bench, Sam Merrill, who started in place of Garland on Saturday, and Dean Wade seamlessly took over the assignment.

Wade, who had drawn Atkinson’s ire earlier in the series for his lack of effort on the glass, responded with his most energetic half of the postseason — already logging more minutes than he did in either of the first two games and making his presence felt.

In the first two games, the Cavs hadn’t trailed outside of a few early possessions in the first quarter — and nothing has changed in Game 3.

Cleveland’s defense set the tone, their bench amplified it, and Miami had no answers by the break.

If the Cavs continue their success on both ends of the floor, they will take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Heat on their home floor.