Will the Heat make the playoffs? What to know about ‘play-in’ game in downtown Miami
The Miami Heat made the postseason, but the team hasn’t made the playoffs.
Confused?
So are we.
Yes, the regular season is over for the Heat. Yet the team needs to still play its way into the playoffs.
Simply put: The Heat must win a game in the play-in tournament to advance to a traditional postseason series.
The fun starts Tuesday night in downtown Miami.
KNOW MORE: Heat considers itself ‘dangerous’ postseason team
What to know about what happens next:
Tuesday’s game
What: Miami Heat play-in game
Opponent: Atlanta Hawks
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Kaseya Center, the Heat’s newly renamed downtown Miami arena.
TV: National broadcast on TNT
At stake: NBA playoffs
Next game
If Heat beats Hawks: Next game will open the playoffs with a first-round series against the Boston Celtics. Game 1 in Boston at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.
If Heat loses to Hawks: It’s not like college March Madness, with the lose-one-and-you’re-done system. There would be more opportunity to qualify for the playoffs on Friday with a home game against the winner of Wednesday’s Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls game. The winner of this third play-in game Friday begins the playoffs with a series against the Bucks in Milwaukee on Sunday at a time TBA.
Going to Tuesday’s game in Miami?
Traffc: Like most Miami Heat games, fans heading to the downtown Miami arena will be traveling during rush hour.
Transit: Brightline trains are running a special Miami Heat post-season schedules. The arena also is near a Metromover stop, which connects to Metrorail.
Weather: Expect heavy rain and possible flooding in downtown Miami through the day, but intensifying in the afternoon leading up to the evening game.
