Tyler Herro helped the Miami Heat take a historic route to the NBA playoffs, then sent a strong message to the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Heat guard scored 30 points including two clutch 3-pointers in overtime as the Heat took down the Atlanta Hawks 123-114, becoming the first 10-seed ever to advance out of the NBA’s play-in tournament and into the playoff bracket.

The Heat’s historic path started with a win over the Chicago Bulls in the No. 9 vs No. 10 game, earning a trip to Atlanta on Friday.

Asked after the game if the team was packed and ready for their next trip to Cleveland, Herro said the team is ready to take on the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

“We packed for 9 days…”

Chicago Atlanta Cleveland https://t.co/gsaeudKr1gpic.twitter.com/Ovsdlv2dAE

"We packed for 9 days…"

Chicago ➡️ Atlanta ➡️ Cleveland https://t.co/gsaeudKr1g pic.twitter.com/Ovsdlv2dAE

— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2025

“We packed for nine days, so we’re ready to roll,” Herro said.

Miami’s path to the playoffs once seemed unlikely, with the Heat losing 10 straight games in March and heading into the play-in tournament losing four of their final six games of the season. The Heat finished the season 37-45.

Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra said the team was motivated to get back to the playoffs.

“I know how badly our group wanted to get into this thing,” Spoelstra said. “I could see it in their eyes and feel it in their heart.”

Spoelstra added that the difficult path to the playoffs made the accomplishment that much sweeter.

“I’m so grateful we’re in the playoffs,” he said. “We’re the first team to do it, and why not, to take on two road games.”