A big part of Miami’s problem was Jimmy Butler’s uncooperative behavior. Specifically, Butler demanded a trade and refused to work with the team until he was shipped out. Now, Miami must retool to get back into serious NBA betting contender status for the years ahead. Now, Miami’s status of being a serious NBA championship threat is over. Miami reached the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023 but has not threatened since then. This year was the first losing season for Miami since the 2018-19 season. Hence, the Heat were forced into the play-in round.
2025 NBA Playoffs First Round Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat
| Date and Time: | Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH. |
| TV Coverage: | NBA TV |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | +12 -110 | 211½ -110 | +490 |  |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | -12 -110 | 211½ -110 | -674 | |
| ||||
Miami Heat Series Schedule
- Game 2: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV
- Game 3: Cavaliers at Heat | Saturday, April 26, TBD | TNT
- Game 4: Cavaliers at Heat | Monday, April 28, TBD | TBD
- Game 5: Heat at Cavaliers | Wednesday, April 30, TBD | TBD *
- Game 6: Cavaliers at Heat | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD *
- Game 7: Heat at Cavaliers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD *
Miami Heat Head Coach
Head coach Eric Spoelstra is in the elite class of NBA bench bosses. The one-time wonderkid is now in his mid-50s and a 2-time NBA champion. Since 2008-09, Spoelstra has been the head coach of the Heat and is a disciple of former Heat coach and current team President Pat Riley, a Hall of Fame legend. Overall, his career sports betting record is 787-572.
Miami Heat Key Players
PG Tyler Hero was the 13th overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of Kentucky by the Miami Heat. Also, He is a first-time NBA All-Star in 2025. This NBA betting season, he averaged 23.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
C Bam Adebayo is a 3-time NBA All-Star. Last year, Adebayo averaged 20.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest. Adebayo averaged 18.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest this season.
Miami Heat Record, Metrics & History
In sum, Miami’s NBA metrics were 23rd for scoring offense, 18th for field goal percentage, 12th for 3-point field goal percentage, 8th for free throw percentage, and 20th for offensive rebounding. While on defense, the Heat’s metrics were 7th for scoring defense, 12th for field goal percentage permitted, 14th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 21st for defensive rebounding.
The Miami Heat’s final regular season record was 37-45 straight up, 39-42-1 against the spread, and 44-38 over/under the total. As a result, Miami was 10th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, 27 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Of course, perhaps the best thing Miami did was convince LeBron James and Chris Bosh to come to Miami in the summer of 2010. That made the Heat the preseason favorites to win the NBA title for four straight years. However, they could not live up to King James’s lofty expectations. Still, they did win the Eastern Conference four straight times. Miami won back-to-back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.
Miami wasn’t truly competitive for a few years after LeBron James left the team. But the Heat surprised everyone by winning the East in 2020. Namely, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo proved to be an excellent combination. The Heat nearly made the NBA Finals again in 2022, but they lost to the Boston Celtics in seven games. Next, in the 2023 NBA Finals, the Denver Nuggets beat Miami in five games.