Category: Miami Heat

MIAMI – The next time the Miami Heat play at Kaseya Center things could look a lot different – and for more than the plans for a new scoreboard. Down 3-1 to the Boston Celtics in this best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series after Monday night’s 102-88 home drubbing, the Heat only will play at home again this season with a Wednesday night Game 5 victory at TD Garden. Based on the lopsided scores of the Heat’s losses the past two games – with the deficit on Monday night cresting at 28 –  the expiration clock on their season is ticking. Loudly. “Our guys really want to...

BOSTON – The Miami Heat, at least this injury-depleted version of the Miami Heat, could not have asked for more, could not have scripted it better. There were 3-pointers falling at a record pace, silky Bam Adebayo mid-range jumpers nestling through the net when relief points were needed, Tyler Herro sizzling as both set-up man and scorer, and a defense that reminded what Erik Spoelstra’s team can look like at its best. And, through it all, still a fight to the finish. Going against Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can have that effect. So no humbling Game 2 rout in this best-of-seven Eastern...

MIAMI – Immediate challenge conquered. Greater challenge ahead. Pushing past the Chicago Bulls a day after learning team leader Jimmy Butler would be lost for weeks with a knee injury, the reward for the Miami Heat for Friday night’s 112-91 win-or-go-home play-in victory is a first-round matchup against the league-best Boston Celtics. On a night offense was a struggle at times for both teams, the Heat turned up the defense to essentially salvage their season. Something more, far more, will be required against the Celtics, with that best-of-seven series opening Sunday at 1 p.m. at TD...

The blow that ultimately turned out the lights on the Miami Heat on Wednesday, and probably beyond, came late in the first quarter and not those final, frantic seconds at the end of the game. Jimmy Butler went up for a shot then under the basket and landed awkwardly on the extended leg of Philadelphia’s Kelly Oubre. Butler lay like a fallen oak on the floor in pain that was mirrored on the televised faces of Heat president Pat Riley and its vice president of scowling, Alonzo Mourning. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, looking for some karmic justice, asked the refs what happened there in harder...

PHILADELPHIA – And so for the second consecutive season for the Miami Heat, the NBA play-in round comes down to a single all-or-nothing game at Kaseya Center. Last year, the Heat turned the opportunity into the launchpad for a run to the 2023 NBA Finals. This time, there will be a mere two-day turnaround from the sting of blowing a double-digit lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in a 105-104 loss Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center. Oh, and it gets worse, with Jimmy Butler injuring his right knee late in the first quarter, hobbled from that stage, and now scheduled for a Thursday MRI....

MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra routinely stresses how his Miami Heat relish a challenge. Related Articles Miami Heat | Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat | PHOTOS Miami Heat | Winderman’s view: A win and a loss (Kevin Love), as Heat injury woes persist They now have one, a Wednesday night NBA play-in road game against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers. Win that, and it’s on to the first round of the NBA playoffs against the No. 2 New York Knicks. Lose that, and for the second year in a row there will be a winner-take-all game at Kaseya...