1989–90 Miami Heat season

The 1989–90 NBA season was the second season of the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 1989 NBA draft, the Heat selected Glen Rice from the University of Michigan with the fourth overall pick, and selected Sherman Douglas out of Syracuse University with the 28th overall pick in the second round. The Heat moved from the Midwest Division of the Western Conference, where they played during the team's inaugural season, to the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The Heat looked to fix their scoring woes via the draft, but still suffered the pains of an expansion team, posting long losing streaks throughout the entire season. However, they finished fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 3-win improvement from 1988–89 with an 18–64 record.

Second-year center Rony Seikaly led the team averaging 16.6 points per game, and was named the 1989–90 NBA Most Improved Player. Despite the awful season, the Heat would only receive the ninth overall pick in the Draft Lottery.

Season standings

 * z – clinched division title
 * y – clinched division title
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * November 3, 1989
 * New Jersey
 * L 90–110
 * Miami Arena
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * November 4, 1989
 * @ New York
 * L 99–119
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * November 7, 1989
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 83–77
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * November 8, 1989
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 91–115
 * The Spectrum
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * November 10, 1989
 * @ Indiana
 * L 98–102
 * Market Square Arena
 * 1–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * November 11, 1989
 * Detroit
 * W 88–84
 * Miami Arena
 * 2–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * November 14, 1989
 * Houston
 * W 101–99
 * Miami Arena
 * 3–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 8
 * November 15, 1989
 * @ Detroit
 * L 94–120
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 3–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 9
 * November 18, 1989
 * @ Dallas
 * L 99–100
 * Reunion Arena
 * 3–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 10
 * November 19, 1989
 * @ Houston
 * L 94–120
 * The Summit
 * 3–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 11
 * November 21, 1989
 * @ Charlotte
 * W 98–87
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 4–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 22, 1989
 * Philadelphia
 * L 103–113
 * Miami Arena
 * 4–8
 * L 99–100
 * Reunion Arena
 * 3–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 10
 * November 19, 1989
 * @ Houston
 * L 94–120
 * The Summit
 * 3–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 11
 * November 21, 1989
 * @ Charlotte
 * W 98–87
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 4–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 22, 1989
 * Philadelphia
 * L 103–113
 * Miami Arena
 * 4–8
 * Charlotte Coliseum
 * 4–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * November 22, 1989
 * Philadelphia
 * L 103–113
 * Miami Arena
 * 4–8
 * Miami Arena
 * 4–8
 * 4–8


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * December 1, 1989
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 77–101
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 4–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * December 6, 1989
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 98–121
 * The Spectrum
 * 4–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 25
 * December 19, 1989
 * New Jersey
 * L 98–100
 * Miami Arena
 * 7–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 28
 * December 26, 1989
 * New York
 * L 94–100
 * Miami Arena
 * 7–21
 * Miami Arena
 * 7–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 28
 * December 26, 1989
 * New York
 * L 94–100
 * Miami Arena
 * 7–21
 * Miami Arena
 * 7–21
 * 7–21


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * January 17, 1990
 * Indiana
 * W 121–111
 * Miami Arena
 * 9–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 40
 * January 19, 1990
 * Philadelphia
 * L 95–102
 * Miami Arena
 * 9–31
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * January 26, 1990
 * @ Indiana
 * L 105–115
 * Market Square Arena
 * 9–35
 * 44
 * January 26, 1990
 * @ Indiana
 * L 105–115
 * Market Square Arena
 * 9–35
 * Market Square Arena
 * 9–35
 * 9–35


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * February 5, 1990
 * @ New York
 * L 107–116
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 10–37
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * February 17, 1990
 * Detroit
 * L 79–97
 * Miami Arena
 * 10–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 19, 1990
 * @ Detroit
 * L 85–94
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 10–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * February 23, 1990
 * New York
 * W 128–121
 * Miami Arena
 * 11–44
 * The Palace of Auburn Hills
 * 10–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * February 23, 1990
 * New York
 * W 128–121
 * Miami Arena
 * 11–44
 * Miami Arena
 * 11–44
 * 11–44


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 62
 * March 11, 1990
 * New York
 * L 90–106
 * Miami Arena
 * 14–48
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * March 20, 1990
 * Indiana
 * L 98–112
 * Miami Arena
 * 15–52
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * March 21, 1990
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 97–118
 * The Spectrum
 * 15–53
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 69
 * March 23, 1990
 * Dallas
 * L 103–106
 * Miami Arena
 * 15–54
 * The Spectrum
 * 15–53
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 69
 * March 23, 1990
 * Dallas
 * L 103–106
 * Miami Arena
 * 15–54
 * Miami Arena
 * 15–54
 * 15–54


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 76
 * April 8, 1990
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 101–102
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 17–59
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * April 16, 1990
 * @ New York
 * L 102–119
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 17–62
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 80
 * April 18, 1990
 * Charlotte
 * L 91–98
 * Miami Arena
 * 17–63
 * 80
 * April 18, 1990
 * Charlotte
 * L 91–98
 * Miami Arena
 * 17–63
 * Miami Arena
 * 17–63
 * 17–63