Heat Defeat Hawks 143-117 in Regular Season Finale

Miami tunes up for play-in tournament with dominant win over resting Atlanta

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:42am

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An abstract, expressionist painting featuring vibrant neon brushstrokes and splatters of color that capture the intense energy and scoring action of an NBA basketball game, without any identifiable players or teams.The Heat's high-octane offense overwhelmed the resting Hawks in a preview of the upcoming play-in tournament.Miami Today

The Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks 143-117 in the final game of the NBA regular season. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Heat with 26 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each scored 25 points. Buddy Hield scored a game-high 31 points for the Hawks, who rested several key players ahead of the playoffs.

Why it matters

The win gives the Heat momentum heading into the play-in tournament, where they will need to win two road games to make the playoffs. The Hawks, who had already clinched a playoff spot, used the game to rest their starters and avoid potential injuries before the postseason.

The details

The Heat pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Hawks 77-57 over the final two quarters. Miami ended the season with a franchise-record 9,911 total points. The Hawks sat several key players, including Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okongwu, in order to focus on health and rest ahead of the playoffs.

  • The game took place on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
  • Miami finished the regular season with a 43-39 record, while Atlanta ended up 46-36.

The players

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

A sixth-man award candidate who scored 26 points off the bench for the Heat.

Bam Adebayo

Miami's star center who scored 25 points in the win.

Norman Powell

The Heat guard who also scored 25 points.

Buddy Hield

The Hawks' leading scorer with 31 points in just 21 minutes off the bench.

Quin Snyder

The Hawks' head coach who emphasized resting players ahead of the playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“The focus for us has been on our guys going into the postseason healthy. And after that, we'll figure out who we're playing and all those things when we get to the postseason.”

— Quin Snyder, Hawks Head Coach

What’s next

The Heat will visit the Charlotte Hornets in a play-in tournament game on Tuesday. The Hawks will open the playoffs against the New York Knicks this weekend.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the different approaches of the Heat and Hawks heading into the postseason. Miami used it as a tune-up, while Atlanta prioritized rest and health over seeding. The outcome gives the Heat confidence, but the Hawks' strategy could pay off if they can get healthy for a deep playoff run.