MIAMI – Following a tough loss on Thursday night, the Heat were big winners on Friday without even playing a game.
Four of the teams the Heat are jockeying with for playoff position, the Bulls, the Pistons, the Pacers and the Hawks, each lost on Friday night. The losses by Chicago and Detroit were especially painful as they came against two of the worst teams in the league (Philadelphia and Orlando).
The Heat remain in the 8-spot, but now with a 1.5-game cushion on Chicago and a 2-game lead on Detroit with both teams two games behind in the loss column. Miami also trails Indiana by just one game for the 7-spot as they head to Boston to take on the Celtics on Sunday night.
Miami plays at Boston on Sunday.
Eastern Conference
| NBA Atlantic | Record |
| Boston | 47-26 |
| Toronto | 43-29 |
| Philadelphia | 27-45 |
| New York | 27-45 |
| Brooklyn | 15-57 |
| NBA Central | Record |
| Cleveland | 47-24 |
| Milwaukee | 37-35 |
| Indiana | 36-36 |
| Chicago | 34-39 |
| Detroit | 34-39 |
| NBA Southeast | Record |
| Washington | 44-28 |
| Atlanta | 37-35 |
| Miami | 35-37 |
| Charlotte | 32-40 |
| Orlando | 27-46 |