The Miami Heat have established themselves as a formidable force in the NBA, and their rise to prominence is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence. With a rich history and a tradition of success, the Heat have captivated fans with their tenacity, resilience, and a never-back-down mentality that has become synonymous with the franchise.
CHRISTMAS DAY BUCKETS!
The LeBron James-Dwyane Wade connection is one of the most devastating duos you’ll ever see in transition. LeBron finds Wade streaking on the break, sprints down court and slams home a return feed from Wade, off the glass, with an incredible left-handed flush. LeBron finished with 19 points, eight boards and four dimes in Miami’s 101-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on December 25, 2013.
RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE!
Glen Rice spent the first six seasons of his career with the Miami Heat and clearly saved his best for the last. In his fifth to final game with the franchise, the perpetually-feared sharpshooter erupted for the game of his life and kept the Orlando Magic defense off balance all night — fooling one defender with a pump fake that sent him to the hardwood before burying a jumper over his outstretched teammate. Rice was fired up, as he connected on 20 of 27 field goals for a career-high 56 points, including marks of 7 of 8 behind the arc and 9 of 10 at the foul line in Miami’s 123-117 victory on April 15, 1995. Rice went on to become an NBA champion and three-time All-Star in a storied career. His 56-point output remained a single-game franchise record until 2014.
SHAQ TAKES FLIGHT IN MIAMI!
When generational stars align, good things happen. Taking note of third-year teammate Dwyane Wade battling to keep a transition attempt alive, veteran superstar Shaquille O'Neal charges down the court, gets the jump on his defender then soars through the air to slam home a long-distance alley-oop. The 2006 NBA All-Star would go on to drop 21 points in just 27 minutes of work against the Cleveland Cavaliers as the eventual champion Miami Heat cruised to a 28-point victory on February 2, 2006.
TEAM EFFORTS PAY OFF!
Another unbelievable fourth-quarter comeback improbably propelled the eighth-seeded Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference semifinals. Two nights after outscoring the Milwaukee Bucks 30-13 over the final six minutes to steal Game 4 in Miami, it was only fitting that the Heat executed the perfect team play to force overtime in Game 5. Trailing by two with just two seconds on the clock, this one appeared headed back to South Beach until Gabe Vincent lofted a flawless alley-oop to First Round hero Jimmy Butler, who was able to get to the perfect spot thanks to a well-timed screen by Max Strus. Butler — who scored 42 points one game after dropping 56 and averaged 37.6 points in the five-game series — somehow caught and flipped Vincent’s lob into the net while falling to the floor for the game-tying bucket. The Heat won 128-126 in overtime on April 26, 2023, taking the series 4-1 and becoming just the sixth No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 and first since 2012.
PLAYOFF JIMMY HAS ARRIVED!
Playoff Jimmy Butler has arrived right on time — bad news for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Miami Heat star produced one of the finest performances of his legendary clutch career to put the top-seeded Bucks’ season on the ropes. The Bucks led by 14 in the fourth quarter, meaning Butler had them right where he wanted: he frequently attacked the rim and converted multiple layups and dunks, including a fast break slam following a steal in the closing minutes. Butler capped the unforgettable evening with a pair of 3-pointers on consecutive possessions that put and kept his squad in front for good in Game 4 of the First Round. The six-time All-Star erupted for a career-high and franchise playoff record 56 points — 21 of which came in the final 12 minutes — the fourth-highest total in playoff history. He shot 19 for 28 and added nine rebounds to put the Heat up 3-1 in the series, a 119-114 victory on April 24, 2023.
