Herro scores 30 points to lead Heat past Hawks 123-114 in OT in play-in and into NBA playoffs

ATLANTA (AP) — After making NBA Play-In Tournament history by winning two road games, the Miami Heat won't be afraid of facing No. 1 seed Cleveland in the playoffs.

Tyler Herro scored 30 points while sinking two 3-pointers in overtime and the Heat regrouped after losing an early lead to beat the Atlanta Hawks 123-114 on Friday night.

Miami will play at Cleveland on Sunday night in the opening game of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

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

Davion Mitchell scored only seven points in regulation before adding three 3-pointers in overtime for Miami.

The Heat became the first No. 10 seed in either conference to make the playoffs since the current play-in format was launched in the 2020-21 season. Miami also became the first play-in team to advance with two road wins.

“We did it the hard way. We're battle-tested,” said Miami's Haywood Highsmith, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. “We can go anywhere and beat anybody.”

Asked about the challenge of facing Cleveland, Spoelstra said, “I'm so grateful we're in the playoffs. We're the first team to do it, and why not, to take on two road games.”

Added Highsmith: “We fought to get into the playoffs. Now what we're in, we're not going to go out soft.”

Trae Young’s lay-in with 1.3 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 106, forcing the overtime. Young scored 29 points with 11 assists. Onyeka Okongwu had 28 points with 12 rebounds.

“Not making the playoffs is a failure to me,” Young said.

Miami started strong, scoring the game’s first 10 points and leading by 17 points at 45-28 in the second period.

The Hawks tied the game for the first time at 88 on a layup by Terance Mann. Young’s 3-pointer gave Atlanta its first lead at 91-88 with 7:36 remaining.

Atlanta led 93-92 before Okongwu hit a 3-pointer. Following a steal by Dyson Daniels, Okongwu’s jam extended the lead to 98-92.

Heat forward Nikola Jovic, who had been out since Feb. 23 with a broken right hand, was available but did not play. Guard Pelle Larsson (ankle) also was available for the first time since April 7.

After setting season lows with four 3-pointers made and 21 attempted against Orlando in the first play-in game, coach Quin Snyder said his players “have got to be more willing to take contested 3s.”

The Hawks responded by attempting 21 3s in just the first half against Miami, while making five. For the game, Atlanta made 16 of 47 3s.

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Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) reacts to a win against the Atlanta Hawks after an NBA play-in tournament basketball, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) celebrates with teammate Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) in overtime of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) leaves the court after a win against the Atlanta Hawks after an NBA play-in tournament basketball, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) reacts to a loss on the bench in overtime of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) dribbles against Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) dribbles the ball in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks guard Caris LeVert (3) reacts to a referee in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks forward Georges Niang (20) shoots against Miami Heat forward Kyle Anderson (20) in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) falls and gets a foul in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) shoots the ball in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Miami Heat, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) shoots against Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) meet after an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) keeps the ball in bounds in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat forward Duncan Robinson (55) attempts to block the ball against in the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) leaves the court after a win against the Atlanta Hawks after an NBA play-in tournament basketball, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans suggest is a call for violence against President Donald Trump.

In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

The post has since been deleted. Comey subsequently wrote, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.

“It never occurred to me,” Comey added, “but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

Comey's original post sparked outrage among conservatives on social media, with Donald Trump Jr. accusing Comey of calling for his father’s killing.

Current FBI Director Kash Patel said he was aware of the post and was conferring with the Secret Service and its director.

James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, noted that the post came at a delicate time given that Trump is traveling in the Middle East.

“This is a Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists & hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East,” Blair wrote on X.

Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 to 2017, was fired by Trump during the president's first term amid the bureau’s probe into allegations of ties between Russian officials and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Comey wrote about his career in the best-selling memoir “A Higher Loyalty.”

He is now a crime fiction writer and is promoting his latest book, “FDR Drive,” which is being released on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump stands backdropped by an MQ-9 Reaper drone before addressing military personnel at the Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)