- The #10 Miami Heat will face the #8 Atlanta Hawks in the final Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament game on Friday
- The Hawks are slight favorites at home despite losing their first Play-In game
- See the opening Heat vs Hawks odds, series history, and key stats for the win-or-go-home matchup
The Miami Heat (37-45, 13-28 away) punched their ticket to the final Eastern Conference Play-In game with a dominant 60-37 halftime lead over the Chicago Bulls that turned into a 109-90 victory on Wednesday night. Miami now heads to Atlanta to face the Hawks (40-42, 23-18 home) in a win-or-go-home contest on Friday.
The Heat are hoping to make another improbable playoff run as a lower seed, similar to their surprising trip to the 2023 NBA Finals as the #8 seed. But they’ll first need to get past Trae Young and the Hawks, who have opened as slight favorites in the Heat vs Hawks odds despite losing to the Orlando Magic in their first Play-In game.
Heat vs Hawks Odds
The Hawks are 1.5-point favorites at State Farm Arena, with a -122 moneyline price that implies a 55% chance of victory. Miami is a +102 moneyline underdog. The total is set at a moderate 221.5 points.
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Odds as of April 17 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Heat vs Hawks 2024-25 Meetings
Miami and Atlanta split their four regular-season meetings, with the home team winning each contest. The Heat dominated the two games in Miami, winning by an average of 16 points. But the Hawks held serve at State Farm Arena, winning by an average of 11 points.
Key Matchups and Stats
The battle between star guards Tyler Herro and Trae Young will likely be the deciding factor. Herro is on an absolutely tear right now, coming off an 18-point first half on perfect 7-of-7 shooting in Miami’s Play-In win over the Bulls. Young remains one of the NBA’s elite playmakers, leading the league in assists at 11.6 per game.
In the paint, the matchup between Bam Adebayo and Onyeka Okongwu could prove pivotal. Both are athletic, defensive-minded centers capable of impacting the game on both ends. Adebayo averages 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while Okongwu has shown flashes of dominance with performances like his 15-point, 14-rebound effort against the Rockets in late March.
The Hawks will likely throw multiple defenders at Heat midseason acquisition Andrew Wiggins, who is averaging 19.0 points in 17 games with Miami but has been inconsistent against Atlanta. Wiggins had 23 points in one matchup against the Hawks but was held to 3-of-9 shooting and 15 points in another.
Winner Advances to Face Cavaliers
The Heat and Hawks both know their season will end with a loss on Friday. But a victory would secure the No. 8 seed and a first-round playoff matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who earned the top seed in the East with an impressive 64-18 record.
Miami has proven its mettle in the playoffs before, making that unexpected run to the Finals in 2023. The Hawks have also had recent Play-In success, winning two games in the 2022 tournament to make the playoffs as a No. 8 seed.
With both teams’ seasons on the line, expect a hard-fought, high-intensity battle in Atlanta on Friday night. The Hawks have the edge of playing at home, but the Heat will bring plenty of confidence after their thorough dismantling of the Bulls. It should be a fascinating contrast of styles between two Southeast Division rivals.
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The NBA Play-In Tournament is heating up as the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks prepare to face off in the final play-in game to secure a spot in the playoffs. The opening odds for this highly anticipated matchup have been released, and fans are eagerly awaiting to see which team will come out on top.
The Miami Heat, led by star players Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, finished the regular season with a record of 40-32. They have been playing some of their best basketball as of late, winning seven of their last ten games. The Heat are known for their strong defense and ability to score in transition, making them a tough matchup for any team.
On the other hand, the Atlanta Hawks have had a rollercoaster season, finishing with a record of 41-31. Led by Trae Young and Clint Capela, the Hawks have shown flashes of brilliance but have also struggled with consistency at times. However, they have been playing well down the stretch, winning six of their last ten games.
According to the opening odds, the Miami Heat are favored to win this game, with odds of -150. This means that a bettor would need to wager $150 on the Heat to win $100. The Atlanta Hawks, on the other hand, are the underdogs with odds of +130, meaning a $100 bet on the Hawks would win $130.
Both teams will be fighting tooth and nail for a chance to advance to the playoffs, so fans can expect an intense and competitive game. The outcome of this matchup will ultimately come down to which team can execute their game plan and make key plays in crunch time.
As the final play-in game approaches, basketball fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see which team will come out victorious and secure a spot in the playoffs. With the opening odds favoring the Miami Heat, it will be interesting to see if they can live up to expectations or if the Atlanta Hawks will pull off an upset. Either way, this game is sure to be a thrilling and high-stakes showdown that fans won’t want to miss.
