In that victory, Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the way with 26 points and five assists off the bench, while Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell each added 25 points. Kel’El Ware contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, helping Miami shift focus from injury concerns to playoff readiness.
Fontecchio, who joined the Heat in the offseason in exchange for Duncan Robinson, posted averages of 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 70 games this season. As he enters unrestricted free agency this summer, he expressed a strong desire to remain with Miami, noting his comfort with the organization, locker room, and community.
The Heat will travel to Charlotte for the Play-In Tournament’s opening game, where they will face the Hornets with the winner advancing to the No. 8 seed playoff path. Despite finishing with a worse record than Charlotte, Miami owns a 3-1 season series edge, and has been among the more stable teams since the All-Star break.
Overall, the result against Atlanta provided a positive sign for Miami as Fontecchio navigates free agency and the Heat prepare for a high-stakes playoff push. The team’s balanced scoring and strong role players give them continued credibility heading into the Play-In.
