After missing the boat to the postseason last year, the Miami Heat are making a return to the playoffs, as they have assured themselves of a spot in the Eastern Conference’s final top eight, thanks to a huge 101-98 home win against the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday night.
The Heat are in.
It's their 2nd playoff appearance since LeBron left after the 2013-14 season. pic.twitter.com/tE3jZQhbrX
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 4, 2018
The 1-2 combo of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside played key roles in delivering the playoff-clinching win for the Heat. Dragic led the team with 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the field to go with 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Whiteside, on the other hand, showed that he’s past his recent issue with the team that led to a fine from Miami by unloading a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds with three blocks. He also delivered the biggest basket of the ball game with a go-ahead tip-in with under a minute left in the final quarter.
This is also the 20th time in 30 seasons that the Heat have clinched a playoff seat, and just the second time since LeBron James left the team to go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Still, there is plenty of work left for the Heat this regular season. They are currently seated in the sixth spot in the East, but they could go as high as fifth or go as low as eight depending on how the rest of the season turns out. With the Washington Wizards losing to the Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks winning against the Boston Celtics Tuesday, the Heat, Wizards, and Bucks all now have an identical 42-36 records.
According to Oddshark.com, the Heat’s latest price to have a downtown championship parade in South Beach is around +8,000.
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