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MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra routinely stresses how his Miami Heat relish a challenge.
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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...
Winderman’s view: Avoiding play-in still tricky (unlikely?) proposition for Heat even with win
MIAMI -– Observations and other notes of interest from Friday night’s 125-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors:
– Don’t believe the hype.
– Yes, the Heat can move to No. 6 in the East and out of the play-in with a Sunday victory and a Sunday loss by the Magic, as well as a loss by the 76ers or Pacers.
– The Heat assuredly will be playing to win, with potential homecome in the play-in at stake.
– But the Bucks, the Magic’s opponent Sunday, have shown little desire to finish second in the East.
– Damian Lillard sat on Friday night for the Bucks and more could sit Sunday, beyond injured...
Heat take care of business with 125-103 victory over Raptors, but still need (lots of) help in seedings race
MIAMI – The hope remains there for an escape from the play-in round for the Miami Heat after they took care of business with a 125-103 victory Friday night over the Toronto Raptors at Kaseya Center.
But the odds remain unsettling.
Basically, if everything plays out to form on Sunday’s closing day of the NBA regular season, the Heat will finish No. 8 in the East and open their postseason with a Wednesday night road play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The only escape hatch for the Heat is pairing a Sunday victory over the Raptors with a Sunday loss by the Orlando Magic to the...
Winderman’s view: After loss, does Heat season come with an expiration date of next week?
MIAMI -– Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 111-92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks:
– At one point, the way this one was playing out, a running clock might have been the way to go.
– Now the question is whether time is running out for the Heat.
– A week from Friday, this could be over.
– Because how, after nights such as this, could anyone have confidence against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers in a Tuesday play-in opener, especially in Philadelphia?
– And if a loss then, it comes down to a winner-take-all game at Kaseya Center against the winner of...
Dallas stars sizzle as Miami stars fizzle in crucial 111-92 Heat playoff-race loss
MIAMI – The Miami Heat again showed Wednesday night they are not up to the challenge of the best of the West.
Because of that, this time with a 111-92 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Kaseya Center, the playoff picture in the East grew even more muddled for Erik Spoelstra’s team, despite a spirited late show of fight.
In closing the season series 0-2 against the Mavericks, just as the Heat did against the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers, the other elites of the Western Conference, the Heat lost control of their own destiny for homecourt...
Winderman’s view: Heat now at the leading-men-or-bust portion of their season
ATLANTA — Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 117-111 double-overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks:
– That Tyler Herro continues to step up is encouraging.
– As is Jimmy Butler playing more in attack mode.
– Bam Adebayo hitting threes.
– And Nikola Jovic continues to emerge.
– But on the other end of the spectrum, the Heat’s role players continue to show their limitations.
– Jaime Jaquez Jr. appears to be hitting a wall.
– Caleb Martin couldn’t hit a shot in this one.
– Kevin Love has ceded minutes at backup center to Jovic.
– Which only confirms the obvious: It...
Tyler Herro’s 33 power Heat to grueling, critical 117-111 2OT victory in Atlanta
ATLANTA – While much changed with the Miami Heat’s playoff outlook with Sunday night’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Heat exited that game knowing that victories in their final four games gave them their best shot for direct entry into the NBA playoffs, or, at worst, a guarantee of opening the play-in round at home.
One down – Tuesday night’s 117-111 grueling double-overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena – three to go: Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks and then a season-ending pair against the visiting Toronto Raptors on Friday and Sunday.
No, not the most...
Winderman’s view: Heat down and now likely out of clear playoff path
INDIANAPOLIS — Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 117-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers:
– So a play-in opener against Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the 76ers?
– Or a play-in opener against Tyrese Haliburton, Heat killer T.J. McConnell and the Pacers?
– Either possibly on the road.
– No, Sunday did not produce the type of clarity the Heat wanted and needed.
– Even while fighting the good fight to the finish.
– Instead, Erik Spoelstra’s unit is looking like a team that even might require a second play-in game to make the playoffs.
– Which would be either against DeMar...
Heat fall closer to play-in reality after 117-115 stumble in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS — To review how the NBA play-in tournament works …
No, this was not the result the Miami Heat needed or even could endure, Sunday night’s 117-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, making it likely that they will have to attempt to earn their way into the playoffs through the treacherous play-in round, where a pair of losses would end their season.
Granted, that would be the same path the Heat took last season in advancing to the NBA Finals, but that was when the Heat played both their play-in games at Kaseya Center, after finishing in seventh place in the...
Winderman’s view: Butler, Adebayo don’t measure up in loss to 76ers
MIAMI – Observations and other notes of interest from Thursday night’s 109-105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers:
– Ahead of the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about how it already felt like the playoffs.
– That it did.
– What it didn’t feel like was enough from Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
– While the 76ers got plenty from their leading men, the same could not be said for the Heat.
– Essentially, Butler and Adebayo did not measure up to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
– So for all the contributions elsewhere for the Heat, it wasn’t enough.
– Yes, Butler came on late.
– But wasn’t...