5 Exciting Playoff Games Miami Heat Fans Will Never Forget

The Miami Heat are among the most successful franchises in the modern era of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Since entering the league in the 1988-89 season, Miami has won three championships, been to seven NBA Finals, and had some of the best players of all time on their roster, including Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal. Given their impressive track record in the playoffs, it's no surprise that Miami has played in several classic contests.

Here's a look at some of the best and most exciting playoff games in Heat history.

Game 2 of the 2023 NBA Finals

While the Heat haven't won a title since the 2012-13 season, they were unlikely finalists in two of the last six seasons, most recently making the NBA Finals in 2022-23 as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Miami upset the Milwaukee Bucks in five games in the first round, then went on to upset the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics before meeting the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals.

Miami lost Game 1, but evened the series in Game 2 thanks to an impressive team 3-point shooting display and what NBA.com writer Shaun Powell called "yet another pugnacious effort." Miami was without star player Tyler Herro and trailed by eight points after three quarters, but overcame a 41-point game from Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, despite a less-than-stellar game from Jimmy Butler.

The Heat's other team leaders stepped up in a big way with Butler on the bench to start the fourth quarter. Miami trailed 83-75 at the beginning of the quarter, but led 92-87 when Butler checked back into the game with 8:03 remaining. Duncan Robinson played a big part in the comeback, scoring 10 points in five minutes. The game came down to the wire, with Miami winning after Jamal Murray missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer.

Unfortunately for the Heat, Denver took the next three games to win their first NBA title.

Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals

Miami won its second consecutive championship in 2013, but it didn’t come easy. The Heat trailed the San Antonio Spurs 3-2 in the 2013 NBA Finals after losing 114-104 in Game 5, but rebounded with a come-from-behind 103-100 win in overtime in Game 6 to extend the series. They trailed by 10 points heading into the fourth quarter, but James delivered a masterful performance, scoring 16 of the team's points in the fourth quarter as the Heat outscored the Spurs 30-20 and sent the game to overtime.

As good as James was in the fourth quarter, it was Ray Allen who delivered the pivotal shot that saved Miami's season. After James missed a game-tying 3-pointer in the waning moments of regulation, Chris Bosh grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to Allen, who nailed a game-tying 3-pointer from the corner. Allen also had four of Miami's eight points in overtime, leading the Heat to a 103-100 victory.

James, who had a triple-double in Game 6, scored 37 points in Game 7, leading Miami to a 95-88 victory.

Game 1 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals

Before meeting the Spurs in the NBA Finals in 2013, Miami played a tough, seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers. James gave the team a 1-0 series lead with an impressive performance in the first game of the series, scoring 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting. His biggest moment came in overtime as he made a game-winning layup with time expiring to give the Heat a 103-102 victory.

Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals

The stakes were high for the Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals. Upon signing with Miami two years prior, James delivered his infamous promise that the team would win, "not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven" NBA titles while he was with the team. Miami lost in the NBA Finals in James’ first season and lost Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Heat responded with consecutive victories in Games 2 and 3, and James willed the team to a commanding 3-1 series lead in Game 4. He had 26 points and 12 assists, while Wade added 25 points as the Heat overcame a 17-point deficit to win 104-98.

Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals

Miami trailed 3-2 against the Boston Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals after losing three consecutive games by a combined 16 points. The next two games weren't close, however, due in large part to the efforts of James. The NBA's all-time leading scorer had one of the best games of his career in Game 6, scoring 45 points with 15 rebounds, leading Miami to a 98-79 victory. He had 30 points in the first half.

James led Miami in scoring in six of the seven games in the series, and scored 31 points in Miami's 101-88 Game 7 victory.