The Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat will battle in Miami on Tuesday night for the right to earn a trip to Boston for a first-round matchup. Atlanta and Miami have met four times this season with the Heat winning three times. The loser of Tuesday night's game will move on to a Friday night game against the winner of the Bulls vs. Raptors matchup. The winner of that game will earn the 8th seed and a date with top-seed Milwaukee in the first round. The opening tap on Tuesday night is scheduled for 7:30 PM EST.
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It has been a tumultuous season for the Atlanta Hawks. The team made a major move in the offseason, trading for guard Dejounte Murray from the Spurs to create one of the Eastern Conference's top backcourts along with All-Star Trae Young. The duo has combined to average over 46 points per game along with 16 assists. The season soured, however, as rumors of discontent between Young and head coach Nate McMillan led to McMillan's dismissal. The Hawks are now led by Quin Snyder and have gone 10-11 since he's taken over as head coach. The Hawks have struggled with consistency for much of the season and closed at 5-5 in the last ten games.
“Our focus needs to go immediately to Miami and what we need to do to prepare for that game,” Snyder said immediately after the season's final game, a loss at Boston.
First NBA buc ket for @STGDwill ???? pic.twitter.com/JsYOAvf3Cw
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 9, 2023
The Hawks have met the Heat four times this season, losing three. In the season series, the Hawks averaged 114 points per game and shot an impressive 50% from the field. They turned the ball over an average of nearly 13 per game and had 36 rebounds per game. The Heat were able to hold both Young and Murray below their season production with the duo combining to average 38 points per game in the four games, roughly eight points under their combined average.
Key Injuries: The Hawks rested several players on Sunday vs. Boston but should be at full strength vs. Miami.