Miami Heat Make History, Advance to NBA Playoffs After Overtime Victory

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Miami Heat made history Friday night by becoming the first No. 10 seed to advance to the NBA playoffs from the Play-In Tournament after defeating the Atlanta Hawks 123-114 in overtime.

The Heat, who started strong in their Play-In matchup, took a commanding 45-28 lead during the first half. However, the Hawks rallied, ultimately leading to a tie game at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.

Miami’s Tyler Herro led the team with 30 points, hitting two crucial 3-pointers in the extra period. “Two competitive teams fighting for the last possession in the playoffs,” Herro said. “Every single run we answered. Really happy for my guys.”

In the game, Miami finished strong with key performances, particularly from Davion Mitchell, who played a pivotal role, scoring 16 points and assisting during critical moments. Both Herro and Mitchell combined for a remarkable 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Heat’s robust performance broke a significant franchise record, as they edged the Hawks with only 7 points being scored by Mitchell in regulation before he exploded with three 3-pointers during overtime.

Trae Young also had a standout performance for Atlanta, finishing with 29 points and adding 11 assists. The Hawks, despite their efforts, struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in the latter stages when they fell behind.

This playoff appearance will mark the Heat’s sixth consecutive season in the playoffs, tying the longest streak in franchise history. Miami will now face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, which begins Sunday.

Looking back, the Hawks had made attempts to mount a comeback after losing star player De’Andre Hunter midseason. Questions loom over Young’s contract status as he has one year remaining and is eligible for an extension this summer. The precarious position further complicates Atlanta’s strategy moving forward.

Game stats showed Miami capitalizing on their perimeter shooting, hitting 16 of 47 3-pointers for the game, while cleverly managing to outscore the Hawks in vital stretches. Despite being in the Play-In tournament, the Heat’s victories were hard-fought on the road, a rarity in today’s competitive NBA landscape.

As this round of the playoffs unfolds, Miami hopes to leverage their momentum from this historic win into a deep playoff run amidst the intensity of postseason basketball.