The Miami Heat closed the regular season with a decisive 143-117 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night at Kaseya Center, delivering one of their most complete offensive performances of the year.
Miami finished the season 43-39, securing a play-in spot and building momentum ahead of a win-or-go-home path to the playoffs.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the charge off the bench with 26 points, strengthening his case for Sixth Man of the Year with an efficient 12-of-17 shooting performance.
Bam Adebayo added 25 points and 10 rebounds, controlling the interior, while Norman Powell matched him with 25 points to give Miami three primary scoring options.
The Heat emphasized pace and spacing early, generating consistent paint touches and perimeter looks that translated into a 56% shooting night from the field.
Miami also recorded 34 assists, reflecting effective ball movement and an ability to create high-percentage shots across multiple lineups.
Atlanta entered the game with playoff positioning already secured and rested several key rotation players, including Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okongwu.
The Hawks still received strong production from their bench, with Buddy Hield scoring a game-high 31 points in just 21 minutes on 12-of-18 shooting.
Corey Kispert added 21 points, while Asa Newell contributed 17 points and 11 rebounds, but Atlanta struggled to contain Miami’s offensive rhythm.
The Heat built separation through consistent scoring runs, finishing possessions efficiently while forcing the Hawks into difficult defensive rotations.
Kel’el Ware contributed 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, adding floor spacing with four made three-pointers from the center position.
Miami’s offensive execution helped the team set a franchise record with 9,911 total points for the season, highlighting sustained scoring production across the year.
The Hawks finished the regular season at 46-36 and dropped to the No. 6 seed after the loss, setting up a first-round matchup against the New York Knicks.
Despite shooting 47% from the field and 39% from three, Atlanta could not match Miami’s efficiency or depth across four quarters.
The Heat, who previously advanced through the play-in as a No. 10 seed last season, will again need two road wins to secure a playoff berth.
Miami will open its play-in campaign on the road against Charlotte, while Atlanta prepares for its first-round series.
