The 1997-98 Miami Heat season was marked by strong performance and high expectations. Led by head coach Pat Riley, the Heat finished with a 55-27 record, securing the Atlantic Division title. This achievement was largely attributed to their robust defense, a hallmark of Riley’s teams, which ranked among the best in the league.
The team’s success was spearheaded by center Alonzo Mourning, who averaged 19.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. Tim Hardaway also played a crucial role, contributing 18.9 points and 8.3 assists per game, showcasing his capabilities as a leading playmaker. The supporting cast included Jamal Mashburn and P.J. Brown, both of whom provided valuable contributions on both ends of the court.
In the playoffs, the Heat entered as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They faced the New York Knicks in the first round, a series steeped in rivalry and known for its physicality. The series went to a decisive Game 5, where the Knicks emerged victorious, defeating the Heat 3-2. This early exit was a disappointment, considering the team’s regular-season success and aspirations for a deep playoff run.
Overall, the 1997-98 season solidified the Heat’s status as a formidable force in the Eastern Conference, although their playoff performance highlighted areas needing improvement to achieve greater postseason success in subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Miami Heat Roster and Stats for 1997-98 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Alonzo Mourning | 58 | 19.2 | 9.6 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 4 | 19.3 | 8.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Tim Hardaway | 81 | 18.9 | 3.7 | 8.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 35.1 | 5 | 26.0 | 3.4 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 43.6 |
| Jamal Mashburn | 48 | 15.1 | 4.9 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 30.3 | 5 | 6.2 | 4.4 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 36.4 |
| Isaac Austin | 52 | 12.7 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Voshon Lenard | 81 | 12.6 | 3.6 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 40.5 | 5 | 14.4 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 34.6 |
| P.J. Brown | 74 | 9.6 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 5 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Dan Majerle | 72 | 7.2 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 37.6 | 2 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 33.3 |
| Mark Strickland | 51 | 6.8 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Eric Murdock | 82 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 30.8 | 5 | 9.4 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 22.2 |
| Todd Day | 5 | 6.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Marty Conlon | 18 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Terry Mills | 50 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 30.9 | 2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Brent Barry | 17 | 4.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 35.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Keith Askins | 46 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 28.4 | 4 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| Duane Causwell | 37 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Antonio Lang | 6 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Rex Walters | 19 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Charles Smith | 11 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Miami Heat in the 1998 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New York Knicks
In the first round of the 1998 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat faced off against their fierce rivals, the New York Knicks, in a tightly contested series. Despite being the second seed, the Heat were upset by the seventh-seeded Knicks in a dramatic five-game series, marked by intense defensive battles and a memorable Game 4 brawl that resulted in multiple suspensions. The series concluded with the Knicks advancing after a decisive 98-81 victory in Game 5, highlighting the rivalry's intensity and unpredictability.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | W 94-79 | |
| Apr 26, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | L 96-86 | |
| Apr 28, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | W 91-85 | |
| Apr 30, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 90-85 | |
| May 03, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | L 98-81 |
Miami Heat 1997-98 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1997-98 season for the Miami Heat.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 114-101 | |
| Nov 01, 1997 | @ Washington Wizards | W 109-108 | |
| Nov 03, 1997 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 112-99 | |
| Nov 05, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 90-74 | |
| Nov 07, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 99-87 | |
| Nov 08, 1997 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 114-106 | |
| Nov 11, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 101-82 | |
| Nov 14, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 82-78 | |
| Nov 15, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 96-93 | |
| Nov 19, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 122-113 | |
| Nov 21, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 119-102 | |
| Nov 22, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 108-104 | |
| Nov 25, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-86 | |
| Nov 26, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | W 84-60 | |
| Nov 29, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 93-87 | |
| Dec 03, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 94-90 | |
| Dec 05, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-97 | |
| Dec 08, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-97 | |
| Dec 09, 1997 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 97-81 | |
| Dec 12, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-89 | |
| Dec 13, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 87-84 | |
| Dec 16, 1997 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 103-95 | |
| Dec 17, 1997 | @ Washington Wizards | L 88-74 | |
| Dec 19, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 91-84 | |
| Dec 20, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 99-92 | |
| Dec 25, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 90-80 | |
| Dec 26, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 88-74 | |
| Dec 28, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 101-90 | |
| Dec 30, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 90-78 | |
| Jan 02, 1998 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 99-88 | |
| Jan 03, 1998 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 84-77 | |
| Jan 07, 1998 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-72 | |
| Jan 09, 1998 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 98-79 | |
| Jan 11, 1998 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 96-90 | |
| Jan 13, 1998 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 76-68 | |
| Jan 15, 1998 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-85 | |
| Jan 17, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-99 | |
| Jan 18, 1998 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 96-87 | |
| Jan 21, 1998 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-87 | |
| Jan 23, 1998 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 102-90 | |
| Jan 26, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 94-93 | |
| Jan 28, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | W 86-82 | |
| Jan 30, 1998 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 74-71 | |
| Feb 01, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-83 | |
| Feb 02, 1998 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 90-83 | |
| Feb 04, 1998 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-84 | |
| Feb 05, 1998 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 91-87 | |
| Feb 10, 1998 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 91-81 | |
| Feb 11, 1998 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 110-101 | |
| Feb 13, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-86 | |
| Feb 15, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 116-95 | |
| Feb 17, 1998 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 110-84 | |
| Feb 19, 1998 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 89-80 | |
| Feb 20, 1998 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 91-77 | |
| Feb 22, 1998 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 90-82 | |
| Feb 24, 1998 | @ Utah Jazz | W 104-102 | |
| Feb 26, 1998 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 91-72 | |
| Feb 28, 1998 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 95-93 | |
| Mar 01, 1998 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 85-84 | |
| Mar 03, 1998 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 97-91 | |
| Mar 05, 1998 | @ Houston Rockets | W 117-93 | |
| Mar 07, 1998 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 94-88 | |
| Mar 10, 1998 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-91 | |
| Mar 12, 1998 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 97-74 | |
| Mar 15, 1998 | @ Orlando Magic | W 79-76 | |
| Mar 16, 1998 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 103-90 | |
| Mar 18, 1998 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 94-91 | |
| Mar 20, 1998 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 93-87 | |
| Mar 22, 1998 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 112-80 | |
| Mar 25, 1998 | @ Boston Celtics | W 105-91 | |
| Mar 27, 1998 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-77 | |
| Mar 29, 1998 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-77 | |
| Mar 31, 1998 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-95 | |
| Apr 02, 1998 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-89 | |
| Apr 04, 1998 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 101-88 | |
| Apr 07, 1998 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 92-89 | |
| Apr 08, 1998 | @ New York Knicks | L 83-80 | |
| Apr 10, 1998 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 111-105 | |
| Apr 12, 1998 | vs. New York Knicks | W 82-81 | |
| Apr 15, 1998 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 99-87 | |
| Apr 17, 1998 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 97-89 | |
| Apr 19, 1998 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 101-89 |