The 1996-97 Miami Heat season was a pivotal one in the franchise’s history, marking their most successful campaign up to that point. Under the leadership of head coach Pat Riley, the Heat finished the regular season with a 61-21 record, which was the best in franchise history at the time and secured them the Atlantic Division title. This was a significant improvement over their previous season record of 42-40.
Key acquisitions during the offseason, including the signing of All-Star center Alonzo Mourning and point guard Tim Hardaway, played a crucial role in the team’s success. Mourning and Hardaway both earned All-NBA Team honors, with their performances helping to solidify the Heat as a formidable force in the Eastern Conference. The team’s defense was particularly impressive, ranking among the top in the league, largely due to Mourning’s presence in the paint.
In the playoffs, the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. They defeated the Orlando Magic in the first round and the New York Knicks in a heated seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, their playoff run ended in the Conference Finals at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, who were led by Michael Jordan and went on to win the NBA Championship. Overall, the 1996-97 season was a landmark year for the Miami Heat, setting a foundation for future success.
- Regular Season Record: 61-21
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Eastern Conference Finals: 1-4
Miami Heat Roster and Stats for 1996-97 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Tim Hardaway | 81 | 20.3 | 3.4 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 34.4 | 17 | 18.7 | 4.1 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 31.3 |
| Alonzo Mourning | 66 | 19.8 | 9.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 11.1 | 17 | 17.8 | 10.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 37.5 |
| Jamal Mashburn | 32 | 13.4 | 5.6 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 32.9 | 17 | 10.5 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 35.5 |
| Voshon Lenard | 73 | 12.3 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 41.4 | 17 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 39.6 |
| Sasha Danilović | 43 | 11.3 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 35.8 | |||||||
| Dan Majerle | 36 | 10.8 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 33.8 | 17 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 33.8 |
| Isaac Austin | 82 | 9.7 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 15 | 6.5 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 25.0 |
| P.J. Brown | 80 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 15 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Kurt Thomas | 18 | 6.3 | 5.9 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Keith Askins | 78 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 40.1 | 12 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 50.0 |
| John Crotty | 48 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 40.8 | 15 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 41.7 |
| Gary Grant | 28 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 30.4 | |||||||
| Willie Anderson | 28 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 42.1 | 9 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
| Ed Pinckney | 27 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Strickland | 31 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Martin Müürsepp | 10 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 25.0 | |||||||
| James Scott | 8 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bruce Bowen | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Matt Fish | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Miami Heat in the 1997 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Orlando Magic
In the first round of the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat faced off against the Orlando Magic in a best-of-five series. The Heat, led by coach Pat Riley and star players Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, emerged victorious in a hard-fought series, winning 3-2. Their tenacity and strategic adjustments helped them advance, showcasing their potential as a formidable playoff contender.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 99-64 | |
| Apr 27, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 104-87 | |
| Apr 29, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 88-75 | |
| May 01, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 99-91 | |
| May 04, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 91-83 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. New York Knicks
In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat faced a fierce battle against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series was marked by intense physical play and a notable altercation in Game 5, which resulted in multiple suspensions. Ultimately, the Heat capitalized on these absences, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to win the series in seven games, advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 07, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 88-79 | |
| May 09, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 88-84 | |
| May 11, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 77-73 | |
| May 12, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-76 | |
| May 14, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-81 | |
| May 16, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | W 95-90 | |
| May 18, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-90 |
1997 Conference Championship vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1997 NBA Playoffs, the Miami Heat reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, showcasing resilience and determination. Coached by Pat Riley and led by stars like Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, the Heat battled the Chicago Bulls but ultimately fell in a tough five-game series against the Michael Jordan-led powerhouse. Despite the loss, Miami's playoff run marked a significant milestone and laid the groundwork for future successes.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 20, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 84-77 | |
| May 22, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 75-68 | |
| May 24, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 98-74 | |
| May 26, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 87-80 | |
| May 28, 1997 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-87 |
Miami Heat 1996-97 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1996-97 season for the Miami Heat.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 94-81 | |
| Nov 02, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 97-95 | |
| Nov 06, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 08, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 101-89 | |
| Nov 09, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 91-84 | |
| Nov 12, 1996 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 105-97 | |
| Nov 13, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 103-71 | |
| Nov 15, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 85-77 | |
| Nov 16, 1996 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 91-89 | |
| Nov 19, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 104-86 | |
| Nov 20, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 94-75 | |
| Nov 22, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 111-108 | |
| Nov 24, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 87-84 | |
| Nov 26, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 107-88 | |
| Nov 27, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 98-82 | |
| Nov 30, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 78-77 | |
| Dec 03, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-75 | |
| Dec 04, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-79 | |
| Dec 06, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | L 103-85 | |
| Dec 07, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 83-80 | |
| Dec 10, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 76-74 | |
| Dec 11, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 84-79 | |
| Dec 14, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 89-88 | |
| Dec 17, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 103-89 | |
| Dec 19, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 94-87 | |
| Dec 21, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | W 86-66 | |
| Dec 23, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 90-79 | |
| Dec 26, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 96-76 | |
| Dec 27, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 101-86 | |
| Dec 29, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 95-94 | |
| Jan 02, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 101-91 | |
| Jan 04, 1997 | @ Utah Jazz | L 83-80 | |
| Jan 07, 1997 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 94-85 | |
| Jan 08, 1997 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 85-81 | |
| Jan 10, 1997 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 94-85 | |
| Jan 13, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 98-95 | |
| Jan 16, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 102-94 | |
| Jan 17, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | W 103-92 | |
| Jan 19, 1997 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 99-87 | |
| Jan 21, 1997 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 94-91 | |
| Jan 23, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 99-87 | |
| Jan 26, 1997 | @ New York Knicks | L 95-89 | |
| Jan 27, 1997 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 125-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1997 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 103-83 | |
| Feb 01, 1997 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 71-66 | |
| Feb 02, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 80-76 | |
| Feb 05, 1997 | @ Boston Celtics | W 118-117 | |
| Feb 06, 1997 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-90 | |
| Feb 11, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-91 | |
| Feb 13, 1997 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 106-90 | |
| Feb 15, 1997 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 125-99 | |
| Feb 18, 1997 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-83 | |
| Feb 20, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 92-87 | |
| Feb 21, 1997 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 114-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1997 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 95-86 | |
| Feb 26, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | L 98-86 | |
| Feb 28, 1997 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 96-95 | |
| Mar 02, 1997 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 79-72 | |
| Mar 04, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 108-99 | |
| Mar 06, 1997 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 99-95 | |
| Mar 07, 1997 | @ Washington Bullets | W 108-105 | |
| Mar 09, 1997 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 82-76 | |
| Mar 11, 1997 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-93 | |
| Mar 14, 1997 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 88-82 | |
| Mar 16, 1997 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 101-80 | |
| Mar 19, 1997 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 93-91 | |
| Mar 21, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 98-97 | |
| Mar 23, 1997 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 113-108 | |
| Mar 26, 1997 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 101-88 | |
| Mar 28, 1997 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 83-79 | |
| Mar 30, 1997 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 102-97 | |
| Apr 01, 1997 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-87 | |
| Apr 03, 1997 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 92-78 | |
| Apr 05, 1997 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 98-84 | |
| Apr 07, 1997 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 94-88 | |
| Apr 08, 1997 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 94-92 | |
| Apr 10, 1997 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 93-83 | |
| Apr 12, 1997 | vs. New York Knicks | L 100-99 | |
| Apr 14, 1997 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 95-87 | |
| Apr 16, 1997 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-92 | |
| Apr 18, 1997 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 86-74 | |
| Apr 19, 1997 | @ Orlando Magic | W 102-88 |