Heat, Hawks Prepare for Play-In Showdown Amid Injuries

The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are set to face off in a do-or-die NBA Play-In Tournament game, with the winner advancing as the eighth seed to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs. Miami is bolstered by the return of rookie Pelle Larsson and forward Nikola Jovic, both of whom have recovered from recent injuries and are expected to be available, though Jovic may play limited minutes. However, the Heat will be without veteran Kevin Love, who is absent due to a family matter. On the Hawks' side, key players including Clint Capela, Jalen Johnson, Larry Nance Jr., and Kobe Bufkin are all out with injuries, impacting the team's depth and prompting lineup adjustments. The Heat are hoping to continue their momentum after a strong recent win, while the Hawks look to capitalize on home-court advantage despite their depleted roster. Both teams have split their season series, adding further anticipation to this high-stakes elimination game.