MIAMI — An otherwise unassuming date on the 2015-16 NBA calendar proved to be a season savior for the resilient Miami Heat.
It was Feb. 19, and they had a road stop against the Atlanta Hawks. When the Heat took the floor, they were without leading scorers Chris Bosh (blood clots) and Dwyane Wade (knee soreness), plus intimidating defensive anchor Hassan Whiteside (suspended).
But the short-handed Heat flashed two traits that have since come to define them: fight in the face of adversity and a high-octane offense.