In a thrilling NBA matchup, the Miami Heat secured their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs after a monumental victory over the Atlanta Hawks, winning 123-114. Tyler Herro was a standout performer, scoring 30 points and sinking crucial 3-pointers in overtime. This win positions Miami to face off against the No. 1 seed, Cleveland, in the playoff opener set for Sunday night.
Miami’s coach, Erik Spoelstra, expressed his team’s determination and drive, saying, “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.” The Heat made NBA history by becoming the first No. 10 seed to make the playoffs since the play-in format started in the 2020-21 season, with two impressive road wins paving their way.
Davion Mitchell, after scoring a modest seven points in regulation, came alive in overtime, contributing three vital 3-pointers. Miami’s resilience and grit were evident, as noted by Haywood Highsmith, who added 12 points and 10 rebounds, stating, “We did it the hard way. We’re battle-tested. We can go anywhere and beat anybody.”
Trae Young, Atlanta’s standout, delivered a strong performance with 29 points and 11 assists, making key plays to force overtime. Despite Young’s efforts and Onyeka Okongwu’s solid contribution of 28 points and 12 rebounds, the Hawks fell short. Young lamented, “Not making the playoffs is a failure to me.”
The Heat established an early lead, surging with the game’s first 10 points and maintaining a strong position at 45-28. Atlanta later caught up, with Terance Mann tying the game at 88 and a lead change from Young’s 3-pointer at 91-88, pushing the game into a tightly contested finish.
Notably, Miami forward Nikola Jovic, recovering from a broken hand, and guard Pelle Larsson, back from an ankle injury, were both available for the game, although they did not play.
The Hawks, following a poor outside shooting display in their game against Orlando, aimed to increase their 3-point attempts. They managed 21 attempts in the first half against Miami, hitting five, and finished the game with 16 of 47 converted. This effort showed their determination to adapt strategically, although it wasn’t enough to quash Miami’s playoff hopes.
This spells an exciting playoff face-off ahead, marking the Heat as formidable contenders after their hard-fought journey. The basketball world is buzzing with anticipation as Miami prepares to challenge Cleveland in their playoff opener.