Heat will need help to make Emirates Cup knockout round

Miami Heat Emirates Cup — The Miami Heat have a chance to advance to the Emirates Cup knockout stage for the first time ever. (Photo Courtesy of the Miami Heat // Twitter)

The Miami Heat did their part in Wednesday’s 106-103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Now, they must wait their fate.

Heading into Friday, the Heat, currently on a six-game win streak at 13-6, closed Emirtes Cup group stage play 3-1 with a plus-49 point differential. They put themselves in prime position to advance to the knockout stage for the first time ever. But they still need help around the league for that possibility to be actualized.

What needs to happen?! Let’s examine!

Heat will need help around NBA to advance to Emirates Cup knockout stage:

If one of these following scenarios happen, the Heat advance:

New York Knicks lose to Milwaukee Bucks (Heat clinches group, in this case)
Cleveland Cavaliers + Detroit Pistons lose to Hawks and Magic, respectively
Cavaliers lose + Magic lose by 12 or more points
Pistons lose + Cavaliers win by 15 or fewer points

The semifinal and final round of the Emirates Cup will be in Las Vegas, Nev. But the Heat could clinch homecourt in the quarterfinals if this following scenario happens:

Cavaliers lose or win by 15 or fewer points + Pistons win by 12-25 points + Bucks beat Knicks

Toronto has already locked up one of the two available homecourt spots in East, going 4-0 with a plus-55 point differential in Group A.

The quarterfinals will not begin until Dec. 9-10, with the semifinals being on Dec. 13 and the championship on Dec. 16.

The next opportunity to see the Heat in action will be Saturday, Nov. 29 at 8:00 p.m. EST against the Detroit Pistons.