"Lifetime contract now": Heat fans elated after Davion Mitchell's big plays propels Miami to playoffs

Davion Mitchell scattered nine points in overtime on Friday to lead the Miami Heat to a 123-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Mitchell, whose main job was to hound Hawks star Trae Young, stepped up offensively when it mattered most for the Heat. The victory gave Miami the No. 8 seed and the right to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.

Fans reacted to Mitchell’s big-time plays that pushed the Heat to the finish line:

“LIFETIME CONTRACT NOW”

@HeatCulture13 said:

“PAY HIM NOW”

@catchflames added:

“I LOVE THIS MAN!!!!!”

One fan continued:

“Mitchell is more clutch than Curry omg”

Another fan reacted:

“We just witnessed Davion Mitchell snatch Trae Young’s chain on national television”

Davion Mitchell is in the Miami Heat payroll this season for $6.4 million. He will become a restricted free agent after the 2024-25 campaign with the Heat. The team will likely give him a new offer following his impressive game on Friday that sent the Heat to the playoffs.

Mitchell was a key reason the Atlanta Hawks managed just eight points in overtime. He was a disruptive force on defense who helped shackle Trae Young. When he was not causing problems defensively, he was hitting long-range bombs that sent the Hawks reeling.

The home team expected Tyler Herro to be a problem. The Hawks likely did not see Mitchell's gritty two-way display knocking them out.

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Davion Mitchell and the Miami Heat defense will be tested by the Cleveland Cavaliers

Beating the Atlanta Hawks on the road to earn a playoff spot was quite impressive. The Miami Heat need to play better than what they showed in Atlanta to pull off an upset against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After chasing around Trae Young, Davion Mitchell's next unenviable task will be shadowing Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell. The Cavaliers ended the regular season with the best offensive rating in the NBA. Behind Garland and Mitchell, Cleveland routinely overwhelmed opponents.

For the Heat to beat the Cavs, Mitchell must do his part in containing the explosive duo. Miami does not have the roster to overpower the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference. They will have to beat the Cavs four times behind a defensive stand anchored by Bam Adebayo. Mitchell could be the string that holds the Heat's defensive strategy in place.