CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs had two players in Sunday’s 121-100 win over the Miami Heat stand out above the rest in Game 1. Both guards. Both with something to prove in the playoffs. Not to knock Donovan Mitchell’s 30-point game, which made him just the second player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in Game 1 in seven straight series. The only other player is Michael Jordan. But that’s the expectation in this environment for Mitchell. Darius Garland and Ty Jerome are two guards with different NBA stories, but the same goal. Garland is trying to exorcise playoff demons from his previous performances that had fans and analysts questioning whether he was capable of playing under the lights of the postseason. Jerome is just beginning to write his playoff narrative. Both of them got off to an ideal start in Game 1 against Miami. Garland started slow, but for him, it’s all about finding his groove. A few dribble moves to size up his opponent, getting to the paint and drawing contact to test his added strength against the Heat’s big men or creating space with his music to knock down an open three. After scoring 12 points in the first half, Garland added nine more in the third on a perfect shooting quarter: 4 of 4 from the field, including splashing a triple. He finished with 27 points and five 3s. His defensive presence didn’t wane, and he welcomed any player to challenge him as he was willing to sacrifice his body for the team. But the fourth quarter belonged to Jerome, who is painting on a blank canvas. How to watch the Cavs: See how to watch the Cavs games with this handy game-by-game TV schedule. After Jerome missed last year’s playoffs due to ankle surgery, fans had long waited to witness him in a playoff environment, especially in a year when he’s a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award. The Heat had kept the Cavs’ lead at eight points at the end of each quarter, and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson needed a spark to extend the lead. Jerome, who had played just three minutes in the third quarter, was the answer. In the first playoff game of his career, Jerome had already knocked down a couple triples and a floater in the first half to give him the confidence he needed to take over. Jerome put up 16 points in the final period on 6 of 7 shooting from the field and a perfect 3 of 3 from deep. He ended the contest with 28 points. He played in 11 of 12 fourth-quarter minutes, as the Cavs put the Heat away and cleared the bench in the final 1:23. Rocket Arena grew louder with each of Jerome’s buckets, and while his adaption to the raucous environment may have been a surprise to others, he had a sense of confidence before stepping into the arena. “It’s the same people trying to stop you from scoring the ball, same people you’re guarding,” Jerome said at shootaround Sunday morning. “Obviously the game is going to be more physical and more intensified, that may take a second to get used to. But at the end of the day, it’s basketball, and I think when you’re a real competitor, you live for games like this. “Obviously it’ll be a different environment. Our fans are some of the best fans in the league and we can’t wait to see what they bring tonight. But other than that, I live for games like this, series like this and I can’t want to play.” Jerome didn’t disappoint. The three main guards for Cleveland combined for 85 of the team’s 121 points. As the series continues, the Cavs will lean on Garland and Jerome to steady the offense, especially when Mitchell is off the floor. They’ve both given an ideal indication that they won’t just hold the fort, but lift the team to its ceiling. This can only be the beginning for these two guards if the Cavs look to reach their ultimate goal: An NBA championship.