There is an elevator and a trap door for the Miami Heat with their next step in the standings.
Based on the moment, it could go either way for Erik Spoelstra’s team, with no middle ground.
Secure a No. 6 seed or higher in the Eastern Conference and there is a guaranteed best-of-seven opening-round playoff series. Anything less, and there is the perilous play-in round, where a loss or two means no actual playoffs at all.
At No. 6 in the East going into Tuesday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the second stop on this four-game trip, it is all there for the taking .