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 Game 1 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.
“We did it the hard way. We’re battle-tested,” said Miami’s Haywood Highsmith, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. “We can go anywhere and beat anybody.”
Asked about the challenge of facing Cleveland, Spoelstra said, “I’m so grateful we’re in the playoffs. We’re the first team to do it, and why not, to take on two road games.”
Added Highsmith: “We fought to get into the playoffs. Now that we’re in, we’re not going to go out soft.”
A layin by Atlanta’s Trae Young with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation tied the score at 106, forcing overtime. Young scored 29 points with 11 assists. Onyeka Okongwu had 28 points with 12 rebounds.
“Not making the playoffs is a failure to me,” Young said.
Miami started strong, scoring the game’s first 10 points and leading by 17 at 45-28 in the second period.
The Hawks tied the score for the first time at 88 on a layup by Terance Mann. Young’s 3-pointer gave Atlanta its first lead at 91-88 with 7:36 remaining.
Atlanta led 93-92 before Okongwu hit a 3-pointer. Following a steal by Dyson Daniels, Okongwu’s jam extended the advantage to 98-92.
Heat forward Nikola Jovic, who had been out since Feb. 23 with a broken right hand, was available but did not play. Guard Pelle Larsson (ankle) also was available for the first time since April 7.
After setting season lows with four 3-pointers made and 21 attempted against the Orlando Magic in the first play-in game, Hawks coach Quin Snyder said his players “have got to be more willing to take contested 3s.”
The Hawks responded by attempting 21 3s in the first half against the Heat, making five. For the game, Atlanta made 16 of 47 3s.
The Heat are in the playoffs for the sixth straight season, tied for the longest streak in franchise history. This was their fourth play-in win all time, breaking a tie with the Hawks, Pelicans and Lakers for most since the tournament was introduced.
ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
