The Miami Heat's biggest problem is clutch moments in the fourth quarter. That's because there's a reality of this team that not many are seemingly willing to admit or offer grace for - and it's that they simply don't have a closer (on either end of the floor) that can be the difference in close games.
And over the last two games, that reality has been very apparent to every fan. It's difficult to hide at this point.
The Heat's struggles in clutch games
In both the team's most recent losses, the Heat faltered in clutch time. "Clutch" games in the NBA are defined as any contest that is within five points with five minutes left. In those instances, the Heat have been downright bad.
And the record of 13-13 in clutch games don't tell the entire story.
One Heat problem for years (excluding Butler) has been poor shooting in the clutch, one reason why offense malfunctions late in these games. Excluding Wiggins (who has been very good in clutch), Heat is 9 for 40 on clutch 3s. On all FGs in clutch, Bam 8 for 30, Powell 12 for 30.…
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) February 27, 2026
Of all the teams in the NBA, the Heat has the worst net rating in clutch games this season, at -12.3. Of the likely playoff (and Play-In Tournament) field, Miami would rank dead-last in that category. They're also a bottom-10 team in overall field goal percentage in those games.
And at the top of reasons why the Heat struggles in those games is the fact that they don't have a closer on either end of the floor. Miami doesn't have a player they can turn to when they desperately need a bucket at the end of games, nor one that they can ask to lock down an opposing player.
The Heat's search for a true closer
It's not that the Heat hasn't sought out those types of players; they've just failed on each of those pursuits. Most recently, the Heat struck out on Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both of those players would check the boxes of "closer" on the Heat's current roster.
Unfortunately, because of the front office's failures, the Heat's been having to ask Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, or Bam Adebayo to fill those roles on any given night. And, honestly, as good as those players may be in their individual roles, neither of them would be mistaken for a true closer.
That's not a knock on either player, but it does reveal the general reality of the Heat.
Star closers are a big key to success in the modern NBA
In the NBA, when you don't have those types of players on the floor, you're just not going to be a very good team.
Looking across the landscape of the best teams in the league, they all have closers or players that are slowly growing into ones.
In the East, the Detroit Pistons have Cade Cunningham, the Boston Celtics have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the New York Knicks have Jalen Brunson, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell. Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the San Antonio Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, the Houston Rockets have KD, the Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, the Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards, and the Los Angeles Lakers have Luka Doncic.
The Heat...don't have anyone close to those players. And that's a big problem. Arguably, their biggest.