CLEVELAND - LeBron James didn't need to speak with Andrew Bogut or see the X-rays on the center's leg.
"I heard it break," he said. "I heard it crack."
In an ugly instant, Cleveland lost much more than a game Monday night.
Bogut broke his left leg less than one minute into his debut and the Cavaliers never recovered while being outgunned 106-98 by the surging and not-to-be-overlooked Miami Heat, who beat the NBA champions twice in three nights.
Dion Waiters scored 29 points, Goran Dragic added 21 and the Heat held off a late rally by the Cavs, who trimmed a 20-point deficit to 103-98 in the final minute. It could have gotten tighter but James missed a long 3-pointer before Waiters banked one in with 12.2 seconds left.
However, Miami's latest impressive win was overshadowed by the injury to Bogut, who only signed with Cleveland last week and had been welcomed to the team earlier in the day by being given jersey No. 6.5 - a joke that made the big Australian smile.
Now, though, the Cavs don't know when or if Bogut will be able to help defend their title.
Boston Celtics
"It's very deflating," James said. "It's a tough moment. We all were excited about the acquisition, you know, bring him in here. It's a tough one, not only obviously for him, first of all, but then for our ballclub."