Head coach Pat Riley Record 55–27 (.671) | Arena Miami Arena Television Sunshine Network, WBFS | |
Place Division: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern) Playoff finish First Round
(Eliminated 2-3) | ||
The 1997–98 NBA season was the tenth season of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. In the offseason, the Heat signed free agent Eric Murdock and acquired Duane Causwell from the Sacramento Kings. Without Alonzo Mourning for the first 22 games of the season due to an offseason knee injury, the Heat continued to play strong basketball as backup center Isaac Austin played string coming off the bench. Other injured players included Jamal Mashburn, who played in just 48 games. Mourning would eventually return as Austin was traded at midseason to the Los Angeles Clippers for Brent Barry, as the Heat posted a 13–2 record in February. The Heat finished first place in the Atlantic Division with a 55–27 record. Tim Hardaway was the only member of the team to be selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.
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In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat faced the 7th-seeded New York Knicks. The Heat would take a 2–1 lead in the series. However, in Game 4, Mourning was suspended for fighting Larry Johnson, his former teammate of the Charlotte Hornets now playing for the Knicks. Without Mourning, the Heat would lose Game 5 at the Miami Arena, 98–81. Following the season, Barry signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls, and Murdock signed with the New Jersey Nets.
East First Round
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks Last Playoff Meeting: 1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Miami won 4-3)