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The Miami Heat could secure a spot in the 2018 NBA playoffs by winning tonight's game against the Brooklyn Nets on their home court or awaiting a Detroit Pistons loss, which would mathematically eliminate them from playoff contention and lock in the Heat by default.
“I would love to get that checkmark, X, right next to our name,” said head coach Erik Spoelstra, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
With three teams tied at 41 wins, the Heat have the tiebreaker over the eighth-place Milwaukee Bucks and could soon breathe a sigh of relief, focusing only on seeding from here on forward.
The Heat had made a rampant comeback last season, narrowly missing the postseason due to a tiebreaker with the Chicago Bulls after starting the season 11-30, only to flip it around and go on a 30-11 run in the second half of the season.
This time, the momentum is slightly favoring Miami, having won six of their last 10 games. It isn't a home run record, but with the way the playoff race has turned out to be, every inch is significant.
To make it even more impactful, the Heat would make their 18th playoff appearance since Pat Riley arrived in 1995-96 by clinching a berth tonight, making them second only to the powerhouse that are the San Antonio Spurs over that span.
The Pistons are set to play the New York Knicks three hours prior to the Heat-Nets matchup, which could allow them to clinch that playoff spot even before the first basket goes through the hoop.
If so, this would mark Spoelstra's eighth playoff season in 10 years at the helm.
