Hawks vs Heat: Miami Survives Atlanta’s Late Rally in Nail-Biting Win
The Miami Heat held off a late surge from the Atlanta Hawks to claim a narrow 114–110 victory at State Farm Arena on 4 February 2026. With playoff positioning on the line, Miami’s composure in the final minutes proved decisive, as Atlanta’s youthful energy nearly spoiled the night for the Eastern Conference contender.
Miami Sets the Pace Early
Miami came out sharp, taking advantage of Atlanta’s tentative defense. Bam Adebayo controlled the paint, finishing strong on both ends, while Tyler Herro and Norman Powell spaced the floor, knocking down several early three-pointers. By the end of the first quarter, the Heat led 32–25, thanks to crisp ball movement and high-efficiency shooting.
The second quarter saw Miami extend their lead to double digits at times, with Jimmy Butler orchestrating the offense and finding cutters for easy buckets. Atlanta struggled to contain the Heat’s pace, with turnovers and missed layups keeping the deficit around 10–12 points at halftime (61–50).
Atlanta Fights Back
The Hawks, led by Trae Young, came out in the third quarter with renewed intensity. Young penetrated the Heat’s defense, creating open shots for De’Andre Hunter and John Collins, while Clint Capela dominated inside with multiple put-backs and second-chance points.
Atlanta managed to chip away at the lead, cutting it to just 6 points by the end of the third quarter (86–80). The Hawks’ bench contributed crucial energy, with Cam Reddish and Bogdan Bogdanović hitting timely threes that kept the crowd roaring.
Thrilling Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter became a tense back-and-forth battle. Miami’s starters stayed composed, with Adebayo grabbing key defensive rebounds and Powell hitting critical mid-range jumpers. Atlanta refused to back down, and with 3 minutes left, the game was tied at 108–108.
A key stretch saw Miami go on a 6–2 run, sparked by clutch free throws from Butler and a corner three from Herro. Atlanta had a chance to tie the game in the final 20 seconds, but Trae Young’s contested three missed the mark, and Miami sealed the win with free throws on the next possession.
Key Performers
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Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo (24 points, 13 rebounds), Norman Powell (21 points, 5 assists), Tyler Herro (19 points, 7 rebounds), Jimmy Butler (18 points, 6 assists).
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Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young (28 points, 9 assists), John Collins (22 points, 11 rebounds), De’Andre Hunter (17 points), Clint Capela (14 points, 14 rebounds).
Miami’s frontcourt dominance and late-game poise were crucial, while Atlanta’s young core showed promise but couldn’t quite finish in crunch time.
What This Means
The win improves Miami’s record to 27–23, keeping them in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of Orlando and Cleveland in a tight playoff race. For Atlanta, the loss drops them to 25–25, highlighting inconsistencies against playoff-caliber teams.
The matchup also provides a glimpse of what both teams might look like in a first-round playoff series: Miami relies on experience and defense under pressure, while Atlanta’s explosive offense can threaten anyone—if it clicks at the right moments.