Which Miami Heat lineups have been best through 25 games?

We have reached the 25-game mark of the 2025-26 Miami Heat season. There’s been good, bad and, recently, some ugly basketball played.

In totality, Miami is currently 14-11 and in sole possession of the No. 8 seed in the East, 0.5 game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and a 0.5 game back of a four-way tie between Philadelphia, Orlando, Toronto and Cleveland.

On Friday, we graded every Heat player — sans Terry Rozier — through 25 games. But when you put different combinations together, which have jelled the best? Let’s examine!

What have been the Miami Heat’s best all-around lineup(s)?

We’re still working with a small sample. There have been four Heat lineups to play more than 50 minutes, seven that have played 40-plus, 12 that have played 30-plus and 15 that have played 20-plus.

Of the 15 that have played 20-plus minutes, let’s examine their best on both ends of the floor:

Offense:

• Davion Mitchell-Norman Powell-Pelle Larsson-Andrew Wiggins-Bam Adebayo: 141.3 ORTG
• Smith-Simone Fontecchio-Jaime Jaquez- Nikola Jovic-Adebayo: 136.3 ORTG
• Mitchell-Larsson-Jaquez-Wiggins-Adebayo: 130.9 ORTG
• Mitchell-Tyler Herro-Powell-Wiggins-Adebayo: 122.0 ORTG
• Mitchell-Larsson-Powell-Wiggins-Kel’el Ware: 118.5 ORTG

Defense:

• Smith-Fontecchio-Jaquez-Jovic-Adebayo: 79.2 DRTG
• Smith-Fontecchio-Jaquez-Wiggins-Ware: 88.6 DRTG
• Mitchell-Powell-Larsson-Jaquez-Ware: 88.9 DRTG
• Mitchell-Larsson-Jaquez-Wiggins-Adebayo: 100.0 DRTG
• Mitchell-Powell-Larsson-Wiggins-Adebayo: 103.8 DRTG

NET Rating:

• Smith-Fontecchio-Jaquez-Jovic-Adebayo: 57.0 NET
• Mitchell-Powell-Larsson-Wiggins-Adebayo: 37.5 NET
• Mitchell-Larsson-Jaquez-Wiggins-Adebayo: 30.9 NET
• Mitchell-Herro-Powell-Wiggins-Adebayo: 12.5 NET
• Mitchell-Powell-Larsson-Jaquez-Ware: 12.4 NET

While the Smith-Fontecchio-Jaquez-Jovic-Adebayo quintet has been their most productive lineup, it’s also the one with the smallest sample (33 MIN). There are some complementary skillsets playing together, but as that sample grew, I highly doubt it would continue to be as impactful as it was.

Meanwhile, the Mitchell-Powell-Larsson-Wiggins-Adebayo five-man grouping has played the fourth-most minutes on the team (51 MIN). Of the 77 lineups around the NBA that have played at least 50 minutes, this one ranks No. 2 in offense, effective field goal percentage, true-shooting percentage and No. 13 in defense.

The rebounding has been subpar in that group, which probably explains some of the defensive numbers. But that lineup features four of their best on-ball defenders, and Norman Powell, another league-average defender, even though he struggles off-ball. Though for what Powell lacks defensively, he’s one of the Heat’s most dynamic shot-makers.

As time passes, even if they remain productive, these numbers will level out more. Last season, none of the 53 lineups leaguewide had an offensive rating greater than 129, a defensive rating better than 101 and a NET Rating exceeding 26 points per 100 possessions.

The bigger takeaway is that Mitchell and Adebayo were the only two players who made four of their best five lineups; Larsson, Powell and Wiggins were all a part of three apiece. That does track, but I’m curious to see how that ages as the season goes on.

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