Miami Heat Playoff History: Series by Year

This is a timeline with all the NBA postseason series played by the Miami Heat. It also includes data about how the team arrived to the Playoffs that year and the result of each series, since their first season in 1989 to the present.

In their 37 seasons in the NBA, the Miami Heat made the postseason 25 times. On those years they have played a total of 55 playoff series, of which they won 33 and lost 22, for a 60.0 winning percentge.

So far, they have reached the NBA Finals 7 times and have won 3 Championships.

Miami Heat Playoffs Timeline

2025 Playoffs

Teams for these Playoffs are still to be determined.

2024 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (46-36 season record). They defeated the Bulls and lost to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Play-In.

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 1-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

* The Celtics ended up winning the Championship.

2023 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (44-38 season record). They lost to the Hawks and defeated the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-In.

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Boston Celtics 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Lost to the Denver Nuggets 1-4 in the NBA Finals

2022 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (53-29 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Atlanta Hawks 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

2021 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (40-32 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 0-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

* The Bucks ended up winning the Championship.

2020 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference (44-29 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 2-4 in the NBA Finals

2019 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (39-43 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

2018 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference (44-38 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 1-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2017 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (41-41 season record, 9th in the Eastern Conference).

2016 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (48-34 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Charlotte Hornets 4-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Lost to the Toronto Raptors 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

2015 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (37-45 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

2014 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (54-28 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 4-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Brooklyn Nets 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Lost to the San Antonio Spurs 1-4 in the NBA Finals

2013 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (66-16 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 4-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Chicago Bulls 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-3 in the NBA Finals

The Heat won the Championship in 2013, it was the 3rd NBA title in franchise history.

2012 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (46-20 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Boston Celtics 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the NBA Finals

The Heat won the Championship in 2012, it was the 2nd NBA title in franchise history.

2011 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (58-24 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Boston Celtics 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Chicago Bulls 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Lost to the Dallas Mavericks 2-4 in the NBA Finals

2010 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference (47-35 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Boston Celtics 1-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2009 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference (43-39 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Atlanta Hawks 3-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2008 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (15-67 season record, 15th in the Eastern Conference).

2007 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference (44-38 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Chicago Bulls 0-4 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2006 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (52-30 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Chicago Bulls 4-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New Jersey Nets 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Defeated the Detroit Pistons 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals
  • -
    Defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the NBA Finals

The Heat won the Championship in 2006, it was the 1st NBA title in franchise history.

2005 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (59-23 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the New Jersey Nets 4-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the Washington Wizards 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Detroit Pistons 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

2004 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference (42-40 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the New Orleans Hornets 4-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Lost to the Indiana Pacers 2-4 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

2003 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (25-57 season record, 13th in the Eastern Conference).

2002 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (36-46 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

2001 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference (50-32 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Charlotte Hornets 0-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

2000 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (52-30 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Detroit Pistons 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Lost to the New York Knicks 3-4 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals

1999 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference (33-17 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the New York Knicks 2-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1998 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (55-27 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the New York Knicks 2-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1997 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference (61-21 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Defeated the Orlando Magic 3-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round
  • -
    Defeated the New York Knicks 4-3 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals
  • -
    Lost to the Chicago Bulls 1-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals

* The Bulls ended up winning the Championship.

1996 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (42-40 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Chicago Bulls 0-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

* The Bulls ended up winning the Championship.

1995 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (32-50 season record, 10th in the Eastern Conference).

1994 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (42-40 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Atlanta Hawks 2-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

1993 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (36-46 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

1992 Playoffs

The Miami Heat qualified for the NBA Playoffs as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference (38-44 season record).

Playoff Series:

  • -
    Lost to the Chicago Bulls 0-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round

* The Bulls ended up winning the Championship.

1991 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (24-58 season record, 13th in the Eastern Conference).

1990 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (18-64 season record, 11th in the Eastern Conference).

1989 Playoffs

The Miami Heat didn't qualify for the Playoffs (15-67 season record, 13th in the Western Conference).

- end of timeline