The NBA regular season is coming to a close, and as part of the final stretch, the Miami Heat will face the Atlanta Hawks in the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament—a format that has brought plenty of excitement since its introduction to determine the final playoff berths.
Designed to add drama to the conclusion of the season, the Play-In Tournament functions as a mini-elimination round to determine the final two postseason spots in each conference.
It’s important to note that NBA teams finishing the regular season between 7th and 10th place qualify for this phase. In the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic (7th) have already secured their playoff spot. The Atlanta Hawks (8th) are still in contention, while the Chicago Bulls (9th) have already been eliminated from the Play-In. The Miami Heat (10th) are now fighting for the final playoff spot.
What happens if the Miami Heat lose to the Atlanta Hawks?
If the Heat lose to the Hawks, their season will come to an end. The winner of this do-or-die matchup will clinch the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, ending the other team’s postseason hopes.
Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball during the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Kaseya Center on March 27, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
What happens if the Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks?
If the Heat manage to defeat the Hawks, they will advance directly to the first round of the NBA Playoffs. There, they are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in what could be a tightly contested and high-stakes series.
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What happens if the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks tie?
If the game ends in a tie at the end of regulation, it will proceed to a five-minute overtime to determine the winner. Additional overtimes will be played as needed until one team emerges victorious. The result of this matchup will be decisive in determining whether Miami keeps their playoff hopes alive.
