The Miami Heat are facing significant challenges as they head toward the latter part of the NBA season, struggling with injuries and accumulating losses. The Heat, currently 26-30, are set to host the Atlanta Hawks, who sit at 27-31, on February 26, 2025. This matchup is particularly important, being the third of the regular season between these two teams, and the Heat are hoping to reverse their fortunes after suffering defeats in both previous confrontations.
Recently, the Heat suffered yet another setback—a 98-86 loss to the Hawks on February 24, where they faced challenges maintaining leads. Miami has now dropped six of their last seven games, raising concerns among fans and analysts about their ability to contend for the playoffs. Tyler Herro, who had previously scored 40 points in two of his last three outings, struggled mightily against Atlanta, netting just 11 points on 4-of-19 shooting. This latest performance marks just the second time he has made four or fewer field goals when attempting at least 19 shots throughout his career.
The Heat's situation worsened with the recent hand injury to forward Nikola Jovic, who broke the second metacarpal of his right hand during Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The injury occurred early in the first half, and though he does not require surgery, he is expected to be reevaluated in four weeks, leaving him sidelined during the final stretch of the regular season. With just 26 games left to play, Jovic will be unavailable to contribute down the line, hampering the Heat's depth at both the bench and starting lineup.
Jovic, 21, had been making strides this season, averaging career-highs with 10.7 points and 2.8 assists per game, and his absence is significant as the Heat look to regroup. To cover Jovic’s loss, head coach Erik Spoelstra turned to Kyle Anderson, who managed 14 points and five rebounds against the Hawks. Spoelstra expressed optimism and stated, "Our group is very resilient," emphasizing the need for the team to remain steadfast amid these difficulties.
Another concern looming over the Heat is the status of three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo, who is listed as questionable due to calf contusion. If unable to play, the Heat will have to find alternative options, increasing the strain on their already thin roster. Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins and Kel’el Ware are also listed as probable, but the team has ruled out several others including Josh Christopher, Keshad Johnson, Dru Smith, and Isaiah Stevens, who are all unavailable.
The team's struggles are reflected starkly by their fourth-quarter performances, where over the past 11 games, the Heat have been outscored by 97 points. Statistics show Miami has performed poorly late in games, leading to questions on their ability to close out matches effectively. Spoelstra provides insight on their recent situations, saying, "It's hard to win in this league," and underlining their need for what he calls, "an incredible amount of stubbornness” to turn things around.
Within these recent narratives, the Heat have reportedly become the league's worst fourth-quarter shooting team, with multiple players significantly underperforming their usual shooting averages. Throughout the last few games and since January 1, the Heat are shooting 28.4 percent on three-pointers, adding to their fourth-quarter woes. Herro’s inconsistency is concerning as he cannot afford to return to erratic scoring, particularly against tough teams like the Hawks.
Miami is currently ranked 9th place within the Eastern Conference, hovering tenuously on the edge of playoff viability. If they wish to solidify their position, they will have to show considerable improvement, particularly with upcoming games against solid competition like the Hawks. Initial match predictions suggest the total match points will likely fall below 220.5, as both teams appear to be struggling offensively.
With all the chaos affecting the Heat, Spoelstra remains optimistic. “You have to quiet all the noise and just not listen to anything, but that's just the deal right now,” he noted. His message seems clear: resilience and teamwork are key. Miami must pull together to weather this storm of adversity and turn it around against the Hawks on Wednesday night. For Spoelstra and the Heat, this game is not just another match—it's another opportunity to build momentum for potentially salvaging their season.