The Atlanta Hawks rested key players, fell 143-117 to the Miami Heat and slipped to sixth in the East, setting up a first-round matchup with the Knicks.
The Atlanta Hawks rested their stars and slid in the standings. The Hawks sat their stars, lost 143-117 to the Miami Heat, and will face the New York Knicks instead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
Sitting Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okongwu cost them a spot. A win Sunday meant Cleveland in Round 1. A loss meant New York. Atlanta finished 46-36, its best record since the 2015-16 season, but slipped from fifth to sixth in the East.
"The focus for us has been on our guys going into the postseason healthy," Snyder said. "And after that, we'll figure out who we're playing and all those things when we get to the postseason."
Snyder wasn't second-guessing it. Getting guys in healthy mattered more than seeding, he said.
Tony Bradley made his first start as a Hawk. Corey Kispert made his eighth start of the season, Keaton Wallace his third and Asa Newell his second.
Buddy Hield led Atlanta with 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting, going 7-of-11 from 3-point range in 21 minutes off the bench. Kispert added 21 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep. Newell posted 17 points and 11 rebounds. Keshon Gilbert chipped in 11 points and 9 assists. Wallace struggled, finishing with 8 points on 2-of-13 shooting.
Miami led from the opening tip and never relinquished it, building an advantage as large as 26. The Heat dominated the paint 80-48, generated 36 fast break points and converted Atlanta's 17 turnovers into 22 points. Six Heat players reached double figures.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. led Miami with 26 points off the bench on 12-of-17 shooting. Bam Adebayo posted 25 points and 10 rebounds. Norman Powell added 25 points and shot 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Kel'el Ware contributed 16 points and 7 rebounds. Tyler Herro grabbed 10 rebounds and dished 8 assists despite connecting on just 2 of 9 field goal attempts.
Miami closed at 43-39 and will need to win two road play-in games to reach the postseason. The Heat pulled off that same feat as the No. 10 seed a year ago.
Atlanta opens the first round at New York this weekend.