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Miami Heat tiebreaker scenarios for NBA Playoffs explained

By Wes Goldberg

Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat
Philadelphia 76ers v Miami Heat / Megan Briggs/GettyImages
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There’s just a week left in the regular season and a ton at stake for teams like the Miami Heat jockeying for playoff position. 

After Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Heat now have just a 14% chance of escaping the play-in tournament, according to Basketball Reference. Every game matters and, in a crowded Eastern Conference, tie-breakers are likely to play a factor.

The Heat missed out on owning the tie-breaker over the Pacers but plenty of others could be in play.

How do NBA tiebreakers work?

If two teams finish the regular season with the same record, the following tiebreaker rules are applied in order until one team has a numeric advantage.

  1. Record in head-to-head matchups
  2. Division leader wins a tie over a team not leading a division
  3. Division record (only if teams are in the same division)
  4. Conference record
  5. Record against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference
  6. Record against teams eligible for the playoffs in other conference
  7. Point differential

What about a three-way tie?

  1. Division leader wins a tie over a team not leading a division
  2. Record in all games among the tied teams
  3. Division record (only if all teams are in the same division)
  4. Conference record
  5. Record against teams eligible for the playoffs in own conference
  6. Point differential

How do the Miami Heat (43-35) match up against other teams in tiebreakers?

  • Orlando Magic (46-32): The Heat have the tiebreaker over the Magic based on head-to-head record.
  • New York Knicks (46-32): The Knicks have the tiebreaker over the Heat based on head-to-head record.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers (46-33): The Heat have the tiebreaker over the Cavaliers based on head-to-head record.
  • Indiana Pacers (45-34): The Pacers have the tiebreaker over the Heat based on head-to-head record.
  • Philadelphia 76ers (44-35): The Heat (29-20) have the tiebreaker over the 76ers (28-21) based on conference record.

Remaining games that will affect tiebreakers

The Heat and 76ers are jockeying for homecourt advantage in a potential 7-8 matchup in the play-in tournament. The Heat hold the tiebreaker because they have a one-game lead in conference record, but both teams have three conference games remaining.

  • Heat at Hawks, Tue. April 9
  • Heat vs Raptors, Fri. April 12
  • Heat vs Raptors, Sun. April 14
  • 76ers vs Pistons, Tue. April 9
  • 76ers vs Magic, Fri. April 12
  • 76ers vs Nets, Sun. April 14

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