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BetMGM bonus code POSTBET: Heat vs. Hawks play-in tournament odds, prediction

By
Dylan Svoboda
Published April 18, 2025, 2:45 p.m. ET

The Heat will travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks in a battle for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

After a post-Jimmy Butler trade swoon, Miami’s offense has been surprisingly strong heading into this massive play-in game Friday night. 

Since snapping a 10-game losing streak on March 23, during which they scored just 101.4 points per game, the Heat have averaged 120 points per contest, the seventh-most in the NBA during that stretch. 

Tyler Herro looks to help the Heat secure the No. 8 seed vs. the Hawks.
Tyler Herro looks to help the Heat secure the No. 8 seed vs. the Hawks. AP

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Heat vs. Hawks betting preview

The Butler trade has freed up Tyler Herro, who averaged 27.4 points on 56.6 shooting overall and 47.4 percent from three since Mar. 23, to run the Heat offense. 

Bam Adebayo has also been much stronger without Butler in the lineup, averaging 21.3 points per game after March 23, after a terrible start to the season offensively. 

Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 9, 2025 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat shoots a free throw during the game against the Chicago Bulls on April 9, 2025 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NBAE via Getty Images

In their first play-in game against the Bulls, the Heat showed off their improved lineup, dropping a whopping 71 first-half points and essentially running away with the game before halftime. 

They’ll get a soft matchup on the offensive side against the Hawks, who are improved defensively compared to years past but still don’t have the muscle to slow down the Heat. 

Betting on the NBA?

Heat vs. Hawks pick

During the regular season, the Hawks’ opponents averaged 119.3 points per game, which was the fourth-most in the NBA. 

The Heat should have no problem approaching that number, which is well above where oddsmakers have set their team total for this game.

The play: Heat Team Total Over 109.5 points (-140)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.

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