MIAMI – With the Miami Heat set to face the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament as the 10th seed, the team will have the hardest route to the playoffs as they have to win two road games. As the Heat look to contend for the playoffs and prove many doubters wrong, head coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about the opportunity that's in front of them.

Before Miami took on the Washington Wizards on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the regular season, Spoelstra spoke about the team locked into the 10th seed, a spot the team didn't imagine finishing in. Despite the placement, Spoelstra would say to ClutchPoints that the chip on their shoulder does give the team a boost of energy and would even call it “fun” as the Heat have “clarity.”

“Yeah, we have clarity. You know, that's probably the first thing you always want is clarity,” Spoelstra said. “Then you want ‘What's the objective?', we know what we're trying to do. And this is an opportunity we know that it's not going to be easy, but it's an opportunity to get into the party, to get into the dance. And, you know, I think the format once you can wrap your mind around it, it's fun.”

Heat's regular-season finale features a laundry list of absences 

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) reacts to landing on the back of the shoe of New Orleans Pelicans center Kylor Kelley (35) during the first half at Smoothie King Center.
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

This isn't the first time Spoelstra would call upcoming hurdles for the Heat “fun” as the team embraces competition even when the unit is cornered. Before Miami faces Chicago in the play-in tournament, the regular season finale on Sunday afternoon against Washington is a relatively meaningless one, though there could be some draft implications.

Article Continues Below
Related Miami Heat News
DeMar DeRozan photoshopped in Heat jersey.
Heat trade proposal for DeMar DeRozan in offseason amid Kings trade rumorsBailey Bassett ·
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles against the Phoenix Suns during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center.
Heat rumors: Kings’ DeMar DeRozan still viewed as Miami offseason trade targetJake Faigus ·
Steve Kerr, Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors
Steve Kerr reveals what Erik Spoelstra told him about Jimmy ButlerTomer Azarly ·
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) looks to shoot in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena.
Bam Adebayo’s All-Defensive snub snaps 5-year Heat streakZachary Weinberger ·
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) dribbles the basketball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter during game three for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center.
Could Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins be Lakers trade targets?Zachary Weinberger ·
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) controls the ball during the second half against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.
Ranking 3 best Jrue Holiday trade destinations if Celtics make big changesBen Cooper ·

Still, the Heat want to end the regular season on a good note against the Wizards, especially coming off a historic win over the New Orleans Pelicans where they scored a franchise-record 153 points. On the other hand, the team is resting Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo while also ruling out Andrew Wiggins, Alec Burks, Nikola Jovic, and Kevin Love.

This will lead to extended minutes for younger players which is a huge plus for Spoelstra, but would say to ClutchPoints that it's a “shame” that Miami will be without Pelle Larsson and Isaiah Stevens who are dealing with an ankle sprain and foot discomfort respectively.

“It'll be good for the guys that haven't been getting big minutes, for them to get out there and play and stay sharp,” Spoelstra said. “It's a shame that we won't have Isaiah [Stevens] or Pelle [Larsson], but that's just the way it goes, and we'll play the other guys big minutes.”

At any rate, Miami is 37-44 which puts them locked at 10th for the play-in tournament in the East before Sunday vs. Washington.