After making NBA play-in tournament history by winning two road games, the Miami Heat won’t be afraid of facing No. 1 seed Cleveland in the playoffs.
Tyler Herro scored 30 points while sinking two 3-pointers in overtime and the Heat regrouped after losing an early lead to beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-114 on Friday night.
Miami will play at Cleveland on Sunday night in the opening game of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
“I know how badly our group wanted to get into this thing,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I could see it in their eyes and feel it in their heart.”
Miami’s Davion Mitchell missed each of his four shots in the first half and scored only seven points in regulation before adding three 3-pointers in overtime, matching his career high for any quarter in his career.
Herro and Mitchell scored or assisted on 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Herro joined Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry as the only players with multiple 30-point games in a single season’s play-in tournament.
Herro’s scoring lead was expected. Mitchell’s starring role was a surprise. He warmed up for the extra period by making a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
“For him to struggle like that in the first half and have that kind of fourth quarter and overtime really speaks to his character,” Spoelstra said of Mitchell.
Mitchell said the support of Spoelstra and his teammates helped give him the confidence to keep shooting, especially in overtime.
“I feel I was forcing it in the first half, trying to do too much,” Mitchell said.
“I just kind of reset in my mind … and let the game come to me. … I just believe in the work I’ve put in. Even if I’m missing shots, it’s OK.”
The Heat became the first No. 10 seed in either conference to make the playoffs since the current play-in format was launched in the 2020-21 season. Miami also became the first play-in team to advance with two road wins.
