Heat clinch playoff spot, shoot down Hawks

MIAMI — Hassan Whiteside's tip-in with a minute left put Miami up for good, Josh Richardson blocked a potential go-ahead shot in the final seconds and Heat clinched their 20th playoff spot in 30 seasons by rallying to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 101-98, on Tuesday night (Wednesday Manila time).

The Heat trailed 98-90 with less than 3 minutes left, then finished the game on an 11-0 run.

Tyler Johnson's 3-pointer got Miami within one, and Whiteside tipped in Richardson's miss on the next possession. Atlanta had a chance to take the lead when Damion Lee got into the lane and tried a 10-footer with about 5 seconds left, but Richardson blocked it and the Heat controlled the rebound.

Richardson made a pair of free throws with 0.6 seconds left. The Hawks' last-ditch 3-point try by John Collins was well short, wrapping up the postseason spot for the Heat.

Miami will open the playoffs on the road on either April 14 or 15.

Goran Dragic scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Miami, which got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Whiteside in his first game since angrily saying he wanted more playing time. Johnson scored 12, Dwyane Wade had 11 and James Johnson finished with 10 for the Heat.

Collins had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who got 18 points from Tyler Dorsey and 16 from Lee. Isaiah Taylor added 15 and Mike Muscala scored 13 for Atlanta.

"It's an honor for us to be in the playoffs," Wade said.

The Heat were not sharp; shots were short, the occasional pass would bounce off someone's head, and balls were dribbled off of feet more than once.

And a few great minutes to start the fourth put the Hawks in total control.

Wade opened the final quarter with a basket to break a 78-all tie, only to have it answered by an 11-0 run for Atlanta. Dorsey made a pair of 3-pointers during the spurt, Muscala made another to cap the burst and just like that the Hawks were up 89-80.

But the Heat had just enough at the end, and now can finally think about the postseason.