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

In a high-scoring game, the Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks 143-117, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading the charge off the bench with 26 points. Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each added 25 points for Miami, which now faces the challenge of winning two road play-in games to secure a playoff spot. Despite Buddy Hield’s impressive 31 points for Atlanta, the Hawks had already secured a playoff position and chose to rest key players, resulting in their drop to the No. 6 seed. Atlanta will face the New York Knicks in the first round, while Miami will play Charlotte in the play-in tournament. The Heat ended their season with a record of 43-39, maintaining a strong performance under coach Erik Spoelstra. QUESTION: How might resting key players before the playoffs impact a team’s performance in the postseason?