After a rough stretch, the Miami Heat have bounced back, winning four straight NBA games, including a dominant 118-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Once again, it was Tyler Herro who led the charge, dropping 30 points in another efficient performance. Following the win, Herro spoke about the team’s postseason aspirations.
Despite their recent resurgence, the Heat’s chances of avoiding the Play-In Tournament have taken a hit, as they previously found themselves slipping in the standings. Now, they are likely to finish as the No. 9 or No. 10 seed, battling the Chicago Bulls—who are tied with Miami but hold the tiebreaker—after the Heat’s recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
However, Herro remains confident in the team’s ability to secure a higher spot. According to The Miami Herald, he believes Miami can still push for the No. 7 or No. 8 seed, which would require just one Play-In win to advance to the playoffs.
“We understand we have an opportunity to get the seventh or eighth seed. We have our eyes set on that Play-In,” Herro said. “We have a chance to get that eighth seed and make it a competitive series.”
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Kaseya Center on January 01, 2025.
Erik Spoelstra on the team’s resurgence
A big factor in Miami’s turnaround has been its offensive improvement. The Heat shot 47.3% from the field and an impressive 46.5% from three-point range against Philadelphia. Herro led the way with 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-9 from deep, while also contributing seven assists and three rebounds.
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Head coach Erik Spoelstra praised his team’s effort and competitive spirit after the victory. “Our guys love to compete,” Spoelstra said. “I said this while we were losing games: We all felt alive. Our locker room felt alive. We felt alive from the competition, from the challenge, and how frustrating it was. If you’re in those circumstances, that can also make you feel dead, but that was not the case with this group. There’s a competitive character in this group. It’s a group that wants to figure it out, wants to play well for each other, and get to another level.”
Spoelstra also emphasized how important these games are as Miami fights for postseason positioning. “Guys are having fun with the competition, and these games mean something,” he added. “We feel like we’re playing for something. It’s not like whatever those narratives are out there. There is something to play for, and that’s exciting.”
Bam Adebayo on the team’s resilience
Team captain Bam Adebayo echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing pride in the team’s ability to stay focused despite a brutal 10-game losing streak earlier in the NBA season.
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“I’m proud of how we responded,” Adebayo said. “We didn’t let go of the rope. We found a breakthrough. Now the question is how we can sustain this success.”
