Heat goal for regular season: end on upswing
Wade says team hopes ‘to go into the playoffs on a high note.’
NEW YORK — With two games remaining, the playoff picture is a bit clearer, at least for the Miami Heat.
Win both, and the Heat secure the No. 6 seed. Split their final two, and they cannot fall lower than No. 7. Lose both, and they could wind up No. 8.
But for the Heat — who come home to finish the season against the Thunder on Monday and Raptors on Wednesday — trying to unjum- Thunder at Heat
7:30 p.m.; Sun
ble all the first-round matchup possibilities was not their priority after another disappointing performance Friday against a lottery team.
“We’ve got to take care of business,” said Josh Richardson, who on Friday went without a field goal (0 of 3) for just the second time all season and finished with two points in the 122-98 loss at the Knicks.
“We’re not looking at who, what spot anyone is in. It’s huge for us (to
Heat
win out). I mean, yeah, anything in the playoffs is a nice number, especially (after) last year, missing. It’s progression. Getting in there was the first thing. From here on out, anything could happen.”
The Heat know the ceiling, and they all say they want it reached — no matter who awaits them in a week.
On Saturday, that would be Philadelphia, which has a half-game lead over Cleve- land for the No. 3 spot. The Sixers can secure the spot by winning their final three games. Cleveland, though, remains very much in play for the No. 3 spot.
The Sixers, though, are expected to be without AllStar center, Joel Embiid, who is recovering from surgery to repair a facial fracture. Yet, Philadelphia has won 13 in a row, five since Embiid when down.
“It would be great,” Dwyane Wade said of finishing sixth. “(We) want to go into “we’ve only had two or three the playoffs on a high note. all season. This was definitely You don’t want to go in los- one of them.” But that was ing three in a row. You want before he added, “What we to definitely go in winning and see is opportunity ahead of feeling good about yourself. us.”
Whatever happens at the end “You want to finish the regof the day from seeds stand- ular season in a good place, point is what it is. because you always feel good
“We’re at the bottom; we’re if you win your last games,” going to play a Goliath team Dragic said. “So, before the anyway. It really doesn’t matplayoffs, it’s important that ter. We want to continue to we stay positive and not allow play good basketball.” this kind of game to happen
Recapturing that momen- again.” tum seemed to be a theme FriStill, no matter what hapday in the quiet locker room. pens, Miami knows the seaThe Heat felt good after back- son will be extended, which to-back wins over Atlanta in is an important step after last which they clinched a playoff season’s second-half stunspot with a dramatic come- ning recovery ended with it back at home Tuesday and missing the postseason on then crushed the Hawks the the final night because of a next night on the road with tiebreaker and then bringWade, Goran Dragic and James ing back virtually the entire Johnson resting with minor team. injuries. “It’s amazing” Wayne Elling
The victories gave the Heat ton said. “It’s a great place seven wins in their past 10 to be. It’s a long season, and games. A nice little roll if they we’ve come a long way. We could keep it up. have two big-time games left.”
And then came the clunker of all clunkers Friday, of which coach Erik Spoelstra said,