The Miami Heat earned a statement win over the Boston Celtics, 124-103. It was their sixth win in a row, as the Heat have quietly become one of the hottest teams in the NBA. Right now, Miami holds the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they will likely compete in the play-in tournament. But with the way they have played over recent weeks, they could be a scrappy matchup that could go on another surprising run. The Miami Heat hold a 35-41 record and are only 1.5 games back from the seventh seed with six games remaining.
The Miami Heat’s Win Streak
Before their win streak, the Miami Heat were on a 10-game losing skid. They had lost in close games against the Cavaliers, Pistons, and others, while getting blown out by teams like the Grizzlies and Celtics. Many thought this spelled the end for the Heat and that after trading away Jimmy Butler, the team would fall to a simple play-in elimination. But they have turned it around since then. Now, they have not only won but have beaten good teams like the Warriors and Celtics. They are still a play-in team in the standings, but the momentum has undergone a considerable shift.
In the Miami Heat’s victory over the Celtics, they were dominant. Boston had one of their worst shooting performances of the season, but it was not all shooting luck. Erik Spoelstra’s defense was tenacious, forcing multiple turnovers and bad shots. Jayson Tatum had an underwhelming 16 points on 4-of-17 shooting and the Celtics shot 27.9% from three. Tyler Herro led the Heat with 25 points and has been one of their key players on this winning streak. This season, Herro has stepped up to become the number one option, even before the Butler trade. He was integral in their big win in Boston.
Beyond Herro, the Miami Heat have many young and talented players. Bam Adebayo serves as a second option and Andrew Wiggins is a proven, athletic wing who can play defense. They also have young players like Davion Mitchell and rookies Pelle Larson and Kel’el Ware. The Heat are known for getting value out of undervalued players across the league and could do so again if this group can stay hot.
Play-In and Playoff Hopes
As the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat will likely end up in the play-in tournament. But they could still change their seeding if things go their way. Miami is one game behind the eight-seeded Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic are a half-game in front of them and five games behind the sixth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Chicago Bulls are also a game behind the Miami Heat, so the seedings could still change for all four of the current play-in teams.
With six games left, the Miami Heat have a relatively light schedule. They face the Wizards, Pelicans, and 76ers, which should all be winnable games. They also play the Grizzlies, Bucks, and Bulls. The Grizzlies have struggled after firing Taylor Jenkins but are also fighting for playoff seeding. The Bucks and Bulls are also battling for improved positions in the playoffs or the play-in. This final stretch will determine the Miami Heat’s seeding for the play-in and determine how difficult their path to the NBA Playoffs will be. If they can climb to the seventh or eighth, it will make a playoff appearance much easier to obtain.
Final Thoughts
The Miami Heat are winners of six consecutive games. They have played well on both ends of the floor and defeated talented teams. However, they are still in the ninth seed with six games left and need to make up ground to earn a playoff spot.
