The Miami Heat have officially done the improbable. They entered the NBA Play-In this year as the number ten seed out East. Being the number ten seed meant the Miami Heat had to win two games in a row on the road to get into the Playoffs. The Heat did just that with a win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, April 16. They beat the Bulls in Chicago 109-90. The Heat then traveled to Atlanta and beat the Hawks in Overtime, 123-114. The Heat will now travel to Cleveland to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the First Round on Sunday, April 20th. Heat Forward Haywood Highsmith spoke postgame about his team’s journey to earning a Playoff spot.
“We fought to get into the playoffs. Now that we’re in, we’re not going to go out soft. We did it the hard way. We’re battle-tested, we can go anywhere and beat anybody.”
Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra spoke postgame about the Heat’s journey and his team’s will.
“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.”
Tyler Herro scored 30 points for the Heat. Including some huge shots down the stretch and in Overtime to push his team to victory. Herro scored his 30 on 10-for-21 shooting. He knocked down 5-for-10 from three. Herro knocked down 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Herro also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out seven assists. Herro’s big-time shot-making and playmaking have been the main catalyst to pushing the Heat to the eighth and final Playoff spot out East.
More Heat Contributions
- Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out eight asissts.
- Bam Adebayo scored 17 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out five assists. He also recorded two steals and blocked five shots.
- Kel’el Ware scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked a shot.
- Davion Mitchell scored 16 points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out five assists off the bench.
- Haywood Highsmith scored 12 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out three asissts, and recorded two steals off the bench.
The Heat will face the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday, 4/20/25. Tip-off from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse is at 7 pm Eastern. The game will air nationally on TNT.
