It was Nov. 16 and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was seated at the podium at Kaseya Center for his pregame media availability. When asked about his team’s losing streak to that night’s opponent, the Brooklyn Nets, Spoelstra became visibly annoyed.
Reporter: “What have they done that has caused you guys difficulties the last several games?”
Spoelstra: “I’m not going to concede that.”
Spoelstra furrowed his brow, raised his right hand in a wassamatawityou kind of way and shook his head. A second later, he grimaced and adjusted in his seat as if the question itself was hanging on his back.
The Heat have been among the winningest franchises in the NBA over the last 30 years with the most successful years captained by Spoelstra. It isn’t often that he or his team are asked questions about their struggles against a specific opponent. But on that night, the Heat had lost their last five against the Nets.
They won by seven that night to break the streak.
With the NBA schedule for the 2024-25 season released this month, it’s worth taking a look at the Heat’s active regular-season streaks – winning and losing – and when they will have a chance to break or extend them.
Denver Nuggets
Streak: Lost last eight
Last win: Aug. 1, 2020
Next meeting: Nov. 8 at Denver
Since we’re only looking at the regular season, this doesn’t include Miami’s Game 2 win over Denver in the 2023 Finals. The Heat’s last regular-season win was before the Nuggets became champions. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 22 in this August 2020 matchup, while Kelly Olynyk added 20 off the bench. Nikola Jokic struggled, finishing with 19 points on 7 of 16 shooting. Jamal Murray didn’t play as he was still recovering from an ACL injury.
The Heat won’t have to wait long for their chance to snap this eight-game losing streak. They travel to Denver in their eighth game of the season. But the Heat have only one win in Denver since 2017. Their home game against the Nuggets isn’t until Jan. 17.
Boston Celtics
Streak: Lost last three
Last win: Jan. 24, 2023
Next meeting: Dec. 2 at Boston
This is the only other team to which the Heat have lost at least three regular-season games in a row. The last win was in January of last year. The Heat lost all three regular-season meetings last season and four out of five in their first-round playoff loss to the Celtics.
After many postseason meetings and classic battles, the Celtics got the best of the Heat last season en route to their 2024 championship.
The Heat will get a chance at revenge when they visit the Celtics on Dec. 2 in Boston, where they haven’t won a regular-season game since Dec. 2, 2022. Miami hosts the Celtics for the first time on Feb. 10.
Houston Rockets
Streak: Won last eight
Last loss: Nov. 27, 2019
Next meeting: Dec. 29 at Houston
The Heat have the Rockets’ number. The last time they lost to the Rockets, James Harden and Russell Westbrook shared the Houston backcourt.
This is by far Miami’s longest win streak against an individual opponent. Others include the Charlotte Hornets (four), Sacramento Kings (three) and San Antonio Spurs (three).