Heat Make Play-In Tournament History with Overtime Win Against Hawks

Historic Achievement for Miami 📚

The Miami Heat etched their name in NBA history Friday night, becoming the first No. 10 seed to reach the playoffs since the current Play-In Tournament format was established in 2020-21. Their dramatic 123-114 overtime victory against the Atlanta Hawks also made them the first team to advance through the Play-In with two road wins.

Herro and Mitchell: Overtime Heroes ⭐

Tyler Herro played the hero's role, pouring in 30 points including two critical three-pointers in overtime. But it was the unexpected overtime explosion from Davion Mitchell that truly sealed Atlanta's fate. After scoring just 7 points in regulation, Mitchell caught fire with three three-pointers in the extra period, matching his career high for any quarter.

Together, Herro and Mitchell accounted for or assisted on 31 points during the fourth quarter and overtime, showcasing remarkable clutch performance when it mattered most.

Never-Say-Die Attitude 💪

"We just never quit," Herro said after the game. "This team has faced adversity all season, and tonight was no different. We knew we had to earn our spot."

Game of Runs 📈

The Heat started the contest on fire, racing to a 10-0 lead and eventually building a 17-point advantage in the second quarter. However, Atlanta gradually clawed back, with Trae Young's layup with just 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation tying the game at 106 and forcing overtime.

Hawks' Valiant Effort Falls Short 🦅

Young finished with 29 points and 11 assists in a valiant effort, while Onyeka Okongwu contributed 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks. Atlanta briefly took control in the fourth quarter, building a 98-92 lead after Okongwu hit a three-pointer and followed with a thunderous dunk after a Dyson Daniels steal.

Dominant in Extra Time ⏰

But Miami weathered the storm and dominated the extra period, outscoring the Hawks 17-8 in overtime.

Clutch Time Excellence 🎯

Herro was particularly lethal in clutch moments, shooting an efficient 5-of-7 in crunch time during the fourth quarter and overtime, compared to the Hawks' collective 5-of-11 shooting in the same situations.

Playoff Bound 🏀

The victory sends Miami to Cleveland for a first-round playoff matchup against the top-seeded Cavaliers, beginning Sunday night. It extends the Heat's playoff appearance streak to six consecutive seasons, tying the longest streak in franchise history.

Season Over for Atlanta 📉

For Atlanta, the loss ends a disappointing season that began with playoff aspirations. Coach Quin Snyder had emphasized the need for his players to take more contested three-point attempts after their previous Play-In loss to Orlando. The Hawks responded by launching 47 three-pointers against Miami but connected on just 16 of them.

Underdogs Prevail 🐶

As the final buzzer sounded, the Heat players celebrated their historic accomplishment, having defied the odds as the East's lowest seed in the Play-In Tournament.