The Miami Heat are currently on the outside looking in the NBA Playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. With a record of 41-33, they are in seventh place, one game behind the Indiana Pacers for the final spot outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament.
If Miami wants to get out of the Play-In and into the top six, opportunities will present themselves to do so. They will be facing off against teams ahead of them in the standings over their last eight games of the regular season, providing golden opportunities to make a move.
Their first chance to start making a move will be on Tuesday night. The Heat will welcome the New York Knicks, who are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, to Kaseya Center in South Beach.
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The Knicks and Heat have a rivalry that goes back decades that has started to be rekindled in recent years. With New York looking to cement itself as a contender in the Eastern Conference, Miami is one of the teams in their way.
In the 2023 NBA Playoffs, it was the Heat who eliminated the Knicks during the Eastern Conference semifinals in six games. The rosters will be vastly different during the matchup on Tuesday night as both teams are dealing with injuries to several key players.
While it isn’t a playoff matchup on Tuesday, the stakes are still very high. Heat big man Bam Adebayo spoke about how intense the game could be, as each team has something to play for still at this point in the season.
“Both teams got something to lose…There’s gonna be a little more edge,” Adebayo said about his Heat getting ready to face the Knicks.
Miami is going to be without Tyler Herro still and Kevin Love has not appeared in a game since February 27th. Josh Richardson is sidelined for the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, as Miami is down three rotation players.
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The Knicks are also without several important players. Forwards OG Anunboy and Julius Randle remain out. The last time Miami and New York played was the last time they were both in the lineup, back on January 27tth.
Anunoby is dealing with a re-aggravated issue with his surgically repaired elbow. Randle separated his shoulder against the Heat that afternoon and has not yet been cleared for full contact.
The 2023-24 NBA season has turned into a battle of attrition for both the Heat and Knicks. Tuesday’s matchup has major playoff implications, as both teams are jostling for position in the Eastern Conference.
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