A sad moment for Miami Heat as they end their run in the 2024-25 NBA playoffs, looking ahead to an uncertain off season. Their game loss of 55 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers ranks as the worst moments in Miami Heat history and the 4th ranked worst in NBA history. The conference standings entering the playoffs probably predicted it, but the loss of the Miami Heat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a clean sweep on 4-0, is one that didn’t come as a surprise to many fans. Here are the stats that ended it all for the franchise, this season.
The stats that brought the Miami Heat down
Saying goodbye to the NBA season at a 55-point game loss, the Miami Heat had a final score of 83 and the Cleveland Cavaliers sat at 138. Playing for the win in the Cavaliers was Donovan Mitchelle, scoring 22 points and 5 assists, De’Andre Hunter at 19 points, Ty Jerome scoring 18 points and 5 assists, and Evan Mobley with 17 points and 7 rebounds.
While on the losing side, players like Nikola Jokic also brought the heat and this game was no different with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Following on the Miami Heat scoreboard was Bam Adebayo with 13 points and 5 rebounds and finally Andrew Wiggins and Pelle Larsson with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Halftime sat at 72-33 with the Heat on the losing side, with the Heat, according to Charles Barkley giving up by this point.
“Ernie, I try not to ever use the words quit or choke … I very seldom use them. This is quitting at its finest right here. I bet if we went to their house, all their stuff is already packed. Listen, you lost by 38 the last game. You can’t stay in Miami. You lost by 38, and you’re down 40 at halftime.” Records were broken on both ends with the Cavaliers earning their biggest lead of 60 points and the Heat playing their worst playoff.
Former NBA player, Kenny Smith said that the Miami Heat performed as though they didn’t have anything significant to play for, saying “I always felt that athletes always have to have something to look into or this happens,” Smith explained. “When it started out with the first three possessions and three turnovers in a row, then all of a sudden, the energy and effort left the team.” Sweeping them 4-0, the Cleveland Cavaliers outscored the Heat by 122 points.
How the Miami Heat is positioned
Not advancing to the second round due to their elimination, Nikola Jokic expresses his disappointment in his performance saying, “Yeah, I mean, I got what I wanted, and that’s to close the game in the playoffs,” Jovic explained. “The stuff I did at the end is really unacceptable. I really did cost us the game, and I just got to be better. This is my third year, and I’m not a rookie anymore…”
Further saying, “…I’ve seen what’s the deal and how to get to the playoffs. The stuff I did today is just not good. I’m really grateful the coach got me the opportunity.” With Jokic’s playing not being reliable, the Heat were also shorthanded with Jimmy Butler taking off and his 10-game losing streak. Losing streaks of the Heat have been made record off, with the team swept clean three times from 2007 against the Bulls, 2021 verses the Bucks and this season.
Miami Heat has a lot of decisions about their roster; an example being Andrew Wiggins’ weak plays, with an average of 11 points on a 37.2% shoot, dropping from a 19 points per game. With 13 players on a Miami Heat contract, Mitchell, Alec Burks and Robinsons contract status has had a lot of overlooking. “This has got to fuel a lot of us going into the offseason.”, says Bam Adebayo.
Miami Heat: players bringing the heat
The team entered the playoffs and has had great moments prior to the playoffs and these players amongst the great team are ones to highlight. Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are positioned as two of the top 50 most impactful players by the ESPN. Ranked 43rd, Herro averages 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on a 41.3% shooting in 47 playoff games. These scores are ones that would have raised the Heat to glory.
Showcasing his amazing performance, Bontemps said, “This was a breakthrough season for Herro, who made his first All-Star team and powered Miami through the play-in with back-to-back big games against Chicago and Atlanta … For the Heat to have another surprise push from the play-in through the East playoffs, they’ll need Herro to continue to produce to keep up with the Cavaliers’ high-octane offense.”
Ranked 34th by ESPN, Adebayo’s 75 playoff games record averages of 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 52.1% shooting. “Adebayo had a down season, particularly offensively, but a strong closing stretch again helped Miami reach the playoffs … He also had a solid defensive effort in the play-in tournament as opponents went 8-25 (32%) on shots contested by the three-time All-Star…” Bontemps said.
The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are still in session, with four teams aware of their fate. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder have levelled up to the second round of the playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder sweeping out the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers ensuring a 4-0 against the Miami Heat. The tough loss to the Cavaliers has eliminated them from the playoffs and the journey for the Heat is facing an uncertain off season, with the likelihood of their roster reshuffled.
