Heat run away in second half, tune up for play-in by beating Hawks 143-117

MIAMI (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. capped his sixth-man award candidacy by scoring 26 points off the bench, Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each scored 25 and the Miami Heat tuned up for the play-in tournament by beating the Atlanta Hawks 143-117 on Sunday night.

Kel’el Ware scored 16 points for Miami, which will need to win two road play-in games to make the playoffs. The Heat pulled off that feat as the No. 10 seed entering the play-in last season.

Buddy Hield scored a game-high 31 points in just 21 minutes off the bench for Atlanta, which had a playoff spot locked up going into the game. Corey Kispert scored 21 and Asa Newell finished with 17 for the Hawks.

Miami ended the season with a team-record 9,911 points.

The Hawks — who risked falling to No. 6 in the East by sitting players, and that's exactly what happened — decided to emphasize health and rest, so they sat Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okongwu, among others.

Atlanta could have been No. 5 had it won Sunday. The Hawks will play No. 3 New York and not No. 4 Cleveland in Round 1.

“The focus for us has been on our guys going into the postseason healthy," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. "And after that, we’ll figure out who we’re playing and all those things when we get to the postseason.”

Tony Bradley, a recent acquisition for Atlanta, made his first Hawks start. Kispert made his eighth of the season, Keaton Wallace made his third and Newell made his second.

Atlanta finished 46-36, its best record since going 48-34 in 2015-16. Miami finished 43-39, ending the regular season at .500 or better for the 15th time in Erik Spoelstra's 18 seasons as head coach.

Hawks: Will open East Round 1 series at New York this weekend.

Heat: Visit Charlotte in a play-in game Tuesday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) dunks over Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., left as Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder, center, talks with referee Robert Hussey (85) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Atlanta Hawks center Christian Koloko (35) scores defended by Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra slaps hands with forward Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, center right, celebrates with guard Tyler Herro (14) and forward Andrew Wiggins (22) as Atlanta Hawks center Tony Bradley, right, walks downcourt during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

NEW YORK (AP) — LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each scored 19 points, Kon Knueppel made three 3-pointers in his record-setting rookie season and the Charlotte Hornets beat the New York Knicks 110-96 on Sunday to clinch the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Coby White also had 19 points for the Hornets, who will host No. 10 Miami on Tuesday in the play-in tournament. Charlotte will have to win that game and then go on the road Friday and beat the loser of the game between No. 7 Philadelphia and No. 8 Orlando to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

With the Knicks locked into the No. 3 seed in the East, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby all sat. Mikal Bridges was the only starter to play for the Knicks, going the opening 23 seconds to extend his consecutive games played streak to 638, eighth-longest in NBA history. He then committed a foul to check out of the game.

The Knicks will face No. 6 seed Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs. Deuce McBride scored 21 points and Jose Alvarado had 16 as New York finished 53-29.

Knueppel finished 3 for 10 behind the arc and scored 14 points. He led the NBA and set the rookie record with 273 3-pointers in what could be a close race with No. 1 pick and Duke teammate Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year.

The Hornets went 33-16 in 2026 and finished 44-38. They won 17 of their last 21 road games.

Anunoby sprained his left ankle in the Knicks' victory over Toronto on Friday and it's unclear if he could have played. Coach Mike Brown said he didn't even ask the medical staff because there was no need, and the Knicks said the forward was considered day to day.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

New York Knicks' Jose Alvarado (5) reacts after scoring a three-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller, front right, looks to pass the ball against New York Knicks' Kevin McCullar Jr. (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Charlotte Hornets' LaMelo Ball, center, reacts after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Knicks' Jose Alvarado (5) attempts to steal the ball from Charlotte Hornets' LaMelo Ball (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller (24) goes up to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)