With the Miami Heat looking to clinch the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, they may catch a big break due to the impending actions of their final two opponents.
That’s because according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards are expected to sit out their regular starters when they play the Heat on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
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Per Cavs: Tristan Thompson, (Thumb, Out), Kyrie Irving, (Knee , Out), LeBron James, (Calf, Out), Kevin Love, (Illness, Questionable)
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 10, 2017
So with Wizards expected to hold out regulars on Wednesday, it is now more likely Heat can finish at .500 than make the playoffs. Crazy.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) April 10, 2017
The Heat currently sit in ninth place in the East. They are one game behind the seventh-seeded Indiana Pacers and are tied with the Chicago Bulls, who hold the tiebreaker over Miami.
This means that even if the Heat do end up winning their final two games of the season, they would need either the Bulls to lose at least one game, or the Pacers to lose at least one, since they hold the tiebreaker over Indiana.
First thing’s first however, as the Heat look to strengthen their chances with a victory tonight against the Cavs.
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