IN an ugly instant, Cleveland lost much more than a game Monday night.

    Andrew 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 LeBron James missed a long 3-pointer before Waiters banked one in with 12.2 seconds left.

    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.

    Kyrie Irving scored 32 and James had 30 points and 17 rebounds for Cleveland, which was beaten by 22 Saturday in Miami while James and Irving got some rest.

    The Heat have won 19 of 23, including victories over Golden State, Houston and two over the Cavs, who may have to find another rim protector.

    The 32-year-old Bogut was on the court for just 58 seconds before going down with the injury, a devastating blow to the former No. 1 overall pick who spent the past four seasons with Golden State was hoping to meet with the Warriors again.

    Bogut was on the perimeter guarding Miami’s Okaro White, whose knee connected with the center’s lower leg. Bogut crumpled to the floor in obvious pain and as he sat up near the scorer’s table, TV cameras caught him telling his teammates his leg was broken.

    James knew it already.

    “As soon as the collision happened I heard it break,” James said. “I went over to him and I knew it.”(SD-Agencies)