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The Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics both lost on Thursday, which means that the Miami Heat have the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
It was the first such finish for Miami since the 2012-13 season, and it came in a season filled with obstacles.
Six of the team's top seven scorers missed a lot of games because of injury or illness. During a game last month, there was a dustup between head coach and star forward Jimmy butler.
Despite the tumult throughout the year, Miami has a record of 52-28. Three players on the Heat average at least 19 points per game, including Tyler Herro, who is the team's leading scorer.
He averaged 21.4 points, 5.9 rebound, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season, and earned his sixth All-Star selection. Herro is one of the top candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, scoring 20.8 points per game. Adebayo is one of the best big men in the league and he has an average of 19.0 points, 10.1 rebound, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.
Miami has been helped by the presence of veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, who was acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors. He leads the Heat with 7.6 assists per game, and his leadership has been a welcome addition.
The supporting cast has been a key part of Miami's success. Duncan Robinson shoots at least 36 percent from three-point range. The Heat are a deep team that is poised for success with veterans such as Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon.
It could be in line for another run to the NBA Finals if Miami stays healthy.
The Atlanta Hawks will be the opponent for the Heat when they return to action on Friday.
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