The eighth-seeded Miami Heat must go through the play-in tournament to keep its playoff dreams alive for a second consecutive year.
In the team’s way are the Philadelphia 76ers, standing at Seed 7, which have won eight games straight since the return of reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
The Heat has spent another season plagued by injuries and inconsistency across the roster. Nonetheless, head coach Erik Spoelstra says that its most recent stretch of games gives him confidence in its ability to make another deep run.
“I know my team,” said Spoelstra. “I know the locker room. I can sense that the group is ready, and that’s all you can ask for.”
