Less than a month ago, the Miami Heat had dropped their 10th straight game. Fans were fed up. The season felt done. Fans were calling for a tank, something this organization, built on grit and pride, has never embraced.
But when you think the Heat are down for the count, they remind you who they are.
By beating the Bulls and Hawks on the road, Miami became the first 10-seed in NBA history to win the Play-In Tournament and clinch a playoff spot. Say what you want, but this franchise just doesn’t die easy. It’s six straight years in the postseason for a team many left for dead.
And they did it in the most Heat way possible: Drama, comebacks, clutch moments, and contributions from the unexpected.
If you’ve watched this team all season, you’ve seen it: Leads blown, fourth quarters collapsed, and heartbreak after heartbreak.
So when Miami’s 17-point lead against Atlanta vanished, it felt like history repeating itself. Down by six late in the fourth, momentum gone, the Atlanta crowd rocking, it looked like another “so close” moment. But something was different this time.
This time, they fought.
Herro made plays, and the team stayed composed and chipped away. A 7-0 run flipped the game. Up 106-104, the Heat were one stop from sealing it.
Then, Trae Young. Layup. Tie game. 1.3 seconds left.
All the air got sucked out of the building, and the feeling that this would be it. That the Heat were headed for another painful overtime exit.
Enter Davion Mitchell.
A guy many thought was just a small piece of the Jimmy Butler trade: He was the difference. Known for his defense, Mitchell has slowly shown signs of offensive growth in Miami, but the question was whether it could show up at the biggest moment.
It did in a big way.
In overtime, Mitchell hit back-to-back threes to give Miami a three-possession lead. He forced turnovers. He shut down Atlanta’s momentum. And with the shot clock winding down and Miami looking to finish the job, a dagger three. Game over!
This wasn’t just about one guy, though.
Tyler Herro did what he does: clutch buckets late and calm under pressure. Kyle Anderson hit two massive shots with the clock running out in the third, keeping Miami afloat. Andrew Wiggins was a defensive beast, making life difficult for Trae Young all night. Bam Adebayo was just classic Bam: defense, playmaking, and a quiet impact that shows up everywhere.
This is what Heat Culture looks like. A team that doesn’t fold doesn’t tank and doesn’t care what seed they are. They grind, they fight, they rise.
As Pat Riley says
“The Hardest Working, Best Conditioned, Most Professional, Unselfish, Toughest, Meanest, Nastiest Team in the NBA.”
With the win, the Heat secured the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference for the third straight season.
They’ll face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round — the first-ever playoff meeting between these two franchises. Miami went 1-2 against Cleveland during the regular season, and Game 1 is set for Sunday in Cleveland.
Let’s be clear: this team isn’t supposed to be here. But they are.
And if history has shown us anything — once the Heat are in, anything can happen.
