NBA Grizzlies & Heat Go to Play Off After Wild Victories

Key Points Summary – NBA Grizzlies & Heat Go to Play Off

• The Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat punch the final two tickets to the NBA Playoffs after dramatic wins.
• Ja Morant returns from injury to lead Memphis past Dallas despite Anthony Davis dropping 40 points.
• Tyler Herro explodes for 30 points and saves Miami in overtime thriller against the Hawks.
• Grizzlies now face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.
• Heat will challenge the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers in the East.
• Both teams make history as resilient play-in survivors, with Miami becoming the first No. 10 seed to win two road games to enter playoffs.
• Next up: Playoff chaos begins Sunday!

NBA Grizzlies & Heat Go to Play Off – Two Epic Wins, One Historic Night

The NBA Play-In Tournament just gave us a night for the history books. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat are officially heading to the playoffs after clutch, emotional, and downright electric wins that had fans on their feet and hearts pounding.

Ja Morant, fresh off a scary ankle injury, and Tyler Herro, with ice in his veins, delivered game-changing performances that turned what could have been early exits into golden tickets to the postseason.

Let’s break down the madness.

Memphis Grizzlies Shock Dallas – Morant Returns Like a Hero

Ja Morant wasn’t even supposed to play. On Tuesday, he left the court with a sprained right ankle. By Friday night, he was back on the floor, dropping 22 points and dishing out 9 assists like nothing happened.

“I wanted to be on the floor. I wanted to play this game and get the win,” Morant said postgame, clearly emotional.

And win they did. The Grizzlies took down the Dallas Mavericks 120-106 in a game that saw Jaren Jackson Jr. lead Memphis with 24 points and Desmond Bane add 22.

The game was a rollercoaster. Memphis exploded early, building a 25-point first-half lead. Dallas surged back with a huge third-quarter run to cut the lead to single digits, but the Grizzlies slammed the door shut in the fourth and never looked back.

Anthony Davis Drops 40 – But It’s Not Enough

Let’s give credit where it’s due. Anthony Davis fought like a warrior, scoring 40 points and grabbing 9 rebounds for Dallas. But he also limped off the court in the fourth with a right calf issue and couldn’t finish the game.

“We had our chances. Obviously, a tough loss,” Davis said afterward, visibly frustrated.

Klay Thompson added 18, but the Mavericks simply couldn’t match the Grizzlies’ energy and execution. And with Kyrie Irving already out due to knee surgery and Luka Doncic traded to the Lakers earlier in the season, Dallas just ran out of gas.

Scotty Pippen Jr. and Zach Edey Deliver for Memphis

Let’s not overlook the supporting cast. Zach Edey pulled in a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Scotty Pippen Jr. dropped 13 off the bench and brought energy on both ends.

This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. And now the Grizzlies are headed to face top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Yes, Memphis lost all four regular-season games to OKC — all by double digits — but as Jaren Jackson Jr. said:

“A series is a series. You’ve got to stay level-headed. Nothing matters until it’s over.”

Miami Heat Stun Atlanta in Overtime – Tyler Herro Is HIM

While the Grizzlies were getting it done out West, the Miami Heat were making history in the East.

Tyler Herro went full superstar mode, scoring 30 points including two massive three-pointers in overtime to carry the Heat to a 123-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

“We did it the hard way. We’re battle-tested,” said Miami forward Haywood Highsmith. “We can go anywhere and beat anybody.”

And he’s not wrong. Miami just became the first No. 10 seed ever to make the NBA Playoffs, doing it by winning two straight road games in the play-in tournament. That’s the stuff of legends.

Davion Mitchell and the Heat’s Grit Close It Out

It wasn’t just Herro. Davion Mitchell came alive in overtime, hitting three clutch 3s after only scoring 7 in regulation. Highsmith had a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards, and Miami closed the game with style.

Coach Erik Spoelstra couldn’t be prouder:

“I know how badly our group wanted to get into this thing. I could see it in their eyes and feel it in their heart.”

Now Miami’s got a date with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers — and they’re not the least bit scared.

Trae Young’s Heroics Fall Short

Atlanta’s Trae Young tried to save the day, tying the game at the buzzer with a layup to force overtime. He finished with 29 points and 11 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu added 28 points and 12 rebounds in a strong effort.

But the Hawks just couldn’t close the deal. Miami’s defense clamped down when it mattered most, and Atlanta will have a long offseason to think about what went wrong.

“Not making the playoffs is a failure to me,” Young said bluntly.

The Heat’s Journey – From 0 to Playoffs

Miami started the season with promise, but injuries and inconsistency dragged them to the bottom of the standings. Yet they refused to quit.

After winning their first play-in game on the road, they repeated the feat against Atlanta — and now, they’re playoff-bound with momentum on their side.

Spoelstra summed it up best:

“I’m so grateful we’re in the playoffs. We’re the first team to do it, and why not, to take on two road games?”

What’s Next: Thunder vs Grizzlies & Cavs vs Heat

Now that the dust has settled, the matchups are locked in:

• Grizzlies vs Thunder: Morant vs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Buckle up.
• Heat vs Cavaliers: Herro vs Donovan Mitchell? Fireworks guaranteed.

Both Miami and Memphis enter as underdogs, but both are battle-tested, hungry, and ready to shock the NBA world.

NBA Grizzlies & Heat Go to Play Off – And It’s Just Getting Started

From Morant’s miracle comeback to Herro’s overtime heroics, Friday night gave us two unforgettable stories and the last two pieces of the NBA playoff puzzle.

This is what the play-in tournament was made for — pressure, surprises, and stars rising when it counts.

Now the stage is set. The top seeds are waiting. And the Grizzlies and Heat are marching in with nothing to lose and everything to prove.

Let the postseason chaos begin.