The Heat and Hawks battled for the 8th seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament, with key players Herro and Young facing injury concerns.

The Miami Heat faced off against the Atlanta Hawks in a pivotal NBA Play-In Tournament game on April 18, 2025, at State Farm Arena. The stakes were high as both teams vied for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hawks entered the matchup as 1-point favorites, boasting a home record of 21-19, while the Heat struggled with a 17-23 record on the road.

Tyler Herro led the Heat, averaging 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game, while Trae Young spearheaded the Hawks with averages of 24.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 11.6 assists. Both teams faced injury concerns; Miami`s Kevin Love was out, and Nikola Jovic was probable, while Atlanta`s Young was also probable due to right Achilles tendinitis, and Clint Capela was sidelined.

Recent form saw Miami winning two of their last three games, including a dominant 109-90 victory over Chicago, where Herro scored 38 points. Conversely, Atlanta`s form was inconsistent, highlighted by a 120-95 loss to Orlando. The game was expected to be tightly contested, with Miami averaging 110.6 points per game and Atlanta 118.2, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.

The winner of this matchup would advance to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs, intensifying the competitive atmosphere of the NBA Play-In Tournament.

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