Key Points Summary – Miami in the Play Off After Beating Hawks
- Miami Heat clinch playoff spot after stunning 123-114 win over Atlanta Hawks in overtime.
- Tyler Herro leads with 30 points, including clutch shots in OT.
- Miami becomes first-ever 10th seed to reach the playoffs under current format.
- Heat win two road play-in games to make NBA history.
- They now face No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 1 on Sunday.
- Herro and Davion Mitchell deliver big in the clutch; Hawks collapse late.
- Miami coach Erik Spoelstra praises team’s hunger and grit.
- Trae Young drops 29 points in the loss, calling the season “a failure.”
Miami in the Play Off – Heat Burn Hawks in Overtime Madness!
Miami in the Play Off, and you better believe they earned every second of it!
Tyler Herro turned up the heat and lit up the Atlanta Hawks with a fiery 30-point performance, including ice-cold 3-pointers in overtime, to lead the Miami Heat to a 123-114 win Friday night. It wasn’t just a win — it was a statement.
Miami didn’t just scrape into the playoffs. They made history while doing it.
First 10-Seed in NBA History to Make the Playoffs
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just another play-in win. This is a record-breaking moment. The Miami Heat just became the first 10th seed ever — in either conference — to claw their way through the NBA play-in tournament and into the actual playoffs.
Even crazier? They did it the hard way: on the road. Twice. No home-court advantage. No easy buckets. Just pure hustle and firepower.
“We did it the hard way,” said Heat forward Haywood Highsmith. “We’re battle-tested. We can go anywhere and beat anybody.”
Herro Turns Hero – 30 Points and Cold-Blooded Threes in OT
Tyler Herro, the Heat’s scoring machine, was on fire all night. His 30 points included two killer 3-pointers in overtime that buried the Hawks once and for all.
Coach Erik Spoelstra couldn’t stop smiling. “I know how badly our group wanted to get into this thing,” he said. “I could see it in their eyes and feel it in their heart.”
It showed. Herro didn’t just score — he led. He controlled the tempo, made clutch plays, and proved once again why he’s the heartbeat of this Heat team.
Davion Mitchell and Haywood Highsmith Step Up Big
Herro wasn’t alone in the Heat wave. Davion Mitchell, who scored just seven points in regulation, suddenly turned into a flamethrower in overtime — dropping three clutch 3-pointers that helped seal the deal.
And let’s talk about Haywood Highsmith: 12 points, 10 rebounds, and the kind of gritty defense that doesn’t show up in stat sheets but wins games.
This team came to fight — and now they’re coming for Cleveland.
Trae Young’s Heroics Not Enough to Save the Hawks
It wasn’t all Heat. Atlanta had their moments, and Trae Young gave it everything he had. His lay-in with 1.3 seconds left tied the game at 106 and forced overtime. He finished with 29 points and 11 assists, trying to will the Hawks into the postseason.
But it wasn’t enough.
“Not making the playoffs is a failure to me,” Young said after the game, clearly heartbroken. He left everything on the court — but the Hawks collapsed when it mattered most.
Hawks Rally, Then Collapse in Overtime
The Hawks fought hard, clawing back from a 17-point deficit and even taking the lead late in the fourth quarter. But once overtime hit, the Heat took over.
Atlanta made just one field goal in OT — a disaster when the season is on the line. Meanwhile, Herro and Mitchell poured it on. Miami outscored Atlanta 17-8 in the extra period.
And just like that, Atlanta’s season ended, and Miami’s underdog run continued.
Spoelstra: “We’re Not Going Out Soft”
Spoelstra, one of the league’s most respected coaches, couldn’t hide his pride after the final buzzer.
“We’re the first team to do it — win two road games and get in as the 10th seed,” he said. “Why not? Why not us?”
And now? The Heat face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 1. Game 1 tips off Sunday night, and if you think Miami’s scared of the East’s top seed — think again.
“We fought to get into the playoffs,” said Highsmith. “Now that we’re in, we’re not going to go out soft.”
The Game by the Numbers
- Herro: 30 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds
- Davion Mitchell: 16 points, 3 threes in OT
- Highsmith: 12 points, 10 rebounds
- Trae Young: 29 points, 11 assists
- Okongwu: 28 points, 12 rebounds
- Miami made 14 of 33 three-pointers
- Atlanta made 16 of 47 from deep
Return of the Bench – But No Minutes
Miami also had some reinforcements back on the bench. Nikola Jovic, out since February with a broken hand, suited up but didn’t play. Pelle Larsen, recovering from an ankle sprain, was available for the first time since early April.
It didn’t matter. The core squad got it done.
Next Stop: Cavaliers — Heat’s Playoff Fire Continues
So what’s next?
Cleveland, beware. The Heat are coming in hot, confident, and totally fearless. After making play-in history, they’re ready to shock the world again.
They’ve been counted out all year. They came into the play-in as the lowest seed. But they fought, they battled, and now — they’re in the playoffs.
The NBA better pay attention. The Heat are cooking at the right time.
Miami in the Play Off – And Loving It
In a season full of chaos, upsets, and jaw-dropping performances, the Miami Heat just delivered one of the most memorable play-in runs we’ve ever seen.
They’re not just in the playoffs — they kicked down the door and marched in with swagger. Two road wins. Clutch performances. No fear. All fight.
Miami in the Play Off is more than a headline — it’s a warning.
The Heat are back. And they’re not leaving quietly.
