# 1995–96 Miami Heat season

The 1995–96 NBA season was the eighth season for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. The Heat had the tenth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, and selected Kurt Thomas out of Texas Christian University. Under new head coach, and team president Pat Riley, the Heat would be restructured. On the first day of the regular season, which began on November 3, 1995, the team acquired All-Star center Alonzo Mourning from the Charlotte Hornets. With the addition of Mourning, along with the off-season acquisition of Rex Chapman from the Washington Bullets, the Heat won 11 of their first 14 games, but then lost 23 of their next 34 games, holding a 22–26 at the All-Star break.
Riley continued to make changes as he would make three more deals at the trading deadline; the team traded Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for All-Star guard Tim Hardaway and Chris Gatling, while trading Billy Owens and Kevin Gamble to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Walt Williams and Tyrone Corbin, and then trading rookie guard Terrence Rencher to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Tony Smith.
The flurry of deadline deals led to one of the most remarkable wins of the season, as the Heat only had eight players available to face the Chicago Bulls at the Miami Arena on February 23, 1996, but won 113–104, thanks mainly to a 39-point game by Chapman (this was one of only 10 losses the Bulls suffered on their way to a then-record 72-win season). The team also signed free agents Jeff Malone, who was previously released by the Philadelphia 76ers, and rookie guard Voshon Lenard, who previously played in the Continental Basketball Association. The Heat played above. 500 for the remainder of the season, and finished in third place in the Atlantic Division with a 42–40 record, which was good enough for the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Mourning averaged 23.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, while Chapman provided the team with 14.0 points per game, but only played 56 games due to an Achilles tendon injury, rookie guard Sasha Danilovic contributed 13.4 points per game, but only played just 19 games due to a wrist injury, and Thomas provided with 9.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Mourning also became the first Heat player to appear in an All-Star Game, as he was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game in San Antonio, Texas. Mourning finished in fourteenth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and Gatling finished tied in seventh place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Heat lost in three straight games to the Bulls, who were led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. The Bulls would defeat the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fourth championship in six years. Following the season, Chapman signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns, while Williams signed with the Toronto Raptors, Gatling signed with the Dallas Mavericks, Corbin signed with the Atlanta Hawks, Smith signed with the Charlotte Hornets, and Malone retired.
For the season, the Heat added new red alternate road uniforms, which remained in use until 1999.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 10 | Kurt Thomas | PF/C | United States | TCU |
| 2 | 46 | George Banks | F | United States | UTEP |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y–Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 12.0 | 37‍–‍4 | 23‍–‍18 | 21–3 | 82 |
| x–New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 26‍–‍15 | 21‍–‍20 | 16–8 | 82 |
| x–Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 30.0 | 26‍–‍15 | 16‍–‍25 | 13–12 | 82 |
| Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 33.0 | 25‍–‍16 | 14‍–‍27 | 10–14 | 82 |
| Boston Celtics | 33 | 49 | .402 | 39.0 | 18‍–‍23 | 15‍–‍26 | 12–12 | 82 |
| New Jersey Nets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 42.0 | 20‍–‍21 | 10‍–‍31 | 8–17 | 82 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 18 | 64 | .220 | 54.0 | 11‍–‍30 | 7‍–‍34 | 5–19 | 82 |
Eastern Conference :
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | z–Chicago Bulls | 72 | 10 | .878 | – | 82 |
| 2 | y–Orlando Magic | 60 | 22 | .732 | 12.0 | 82 |
| 3 | x–Indiana Pacers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 20.0 | 82 |
| 4 | x–Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 82 |
| 5 | x–New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 25.0 | 82 |
| 6 | x–Atlanta Hawks | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 82 |
| 7 | x–Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 26.0 | 82 |
| 8 | x–Miami Heat | 42 | 40 | .512 | 30.0 | 82 |
| 9 | Charlotte Hornets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 31.0 | 82 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 33.0 | 82 |
| 11 | Boston Celtics | 33 | 49 | .402 | 39.0 | 82 |
| 12 | New Jersey Nets | 30 | 52 | .366 | 42.0 | 82 |
| 13 | Milwaukee Bucks | 25 | 57 | .305 | 47.0 | 82 |
| 14 | Toronto Raptors | 21 | 61 | .256 | 51.0 | 82 |
| 15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 18 | 64 | .220 | 54.0 | 82 |

### Record vs. opponents

1995-96 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Charlotte | 1–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| New York | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Philadelphia | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | – | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

### Schedule

| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Heat points | Opponents | Record | Streak | OT |
| 1 | November 4 | Cleveland | Win | 85 | 71 | 1-0 | Won 1 | |
| 2 | November 8 | Houston | Win | 89 | 82 | 2-0 | Won 2 | |
| 3 | November 10 | New Jersey | Win | 106 | 80 | 3-0 | Won 3 | |
| 4 | November 11 | @ Orlando | Loss | 93 | 94 | 3-1 | Lost 1 | |
| 5 | November 15 | Indiana | Loss | 97 | 103 | 3-2 | Lost 2 | |
| 6 | November 17 | @ Atlanta | Win | 91 | 88 | 4-2 | Won 1 | |
| 7 | November 18 | Orlando | Win | 93 | 90 | 5-2 | Won 2 | |
| 8 | November 22 | Golden State | Win | 103 | 93 | 6-2 | Won 3 | |
| 9 | November 24 | @ Washington | Loss | 94 | 110 | 6-3 | Lost 1 | |
| 10 | November 25 | Vancouver | Win | 111 | 91 | 7-3 | Won 1 | |
| 11 | November 28 | Dallas | Win | 111 | 89 | 8-3 | Won 2 | |
| 12 | November 30 | @ Detroit | Win | 118 | 107 | 9-3 | Won 3 | |
| 13 | December 1 | Charlotte | Win | 108 | 101 | 10-3 | Won 4 | OT |
| 14 | December 3 | @ Toronto | Win | 112 | 94 | 11-3 | Won 5 | |
| 15 | December 4 | @ Boston | Loss | 120 | 121 | 11-4 | Lost 1 | 2OT |
| 16 | December 6 | Boston | Loss | 101 | 105 | 11-5 | Lost 2 | |
| 17 | December 9 | @ Phoenix | Win | 94 | 92 | 12-5 | Won 1 | |
| 18 | December 10 | @ Sacramento | Loss | 90 | 110 | 12-6 | Lost 1 | |
| 19 | December 12 | @ Golden State | Loss | 80 | 105 | 12-7 | Lost 2 | |
| 20 | December 14 | @ LA Clippers | Loss | 84 | 89 | 12-8 | Lost 3 | |
| 21 | December 16 | Utah | Loss | 74 | 83 | 12-9 | Lost 4 | |
| 22 | December 19 | @ New York | Loss | 70 | 89 | 12-10 | Lost 5 | |
| 23 | December 20 | @ New Jersey | Win | 112 | 104 | 13-10 | Won 1 | OT |
| 24 | December 22 | Detroit | Loss | 75 | 84 | 13-11 | Lost 1 | |
| 25 | December 23 | @ Charlotte | Loss | 75 | 87 | 13-12 | Lost 2 | |
| 26 | December 26 | New Jersey | Win | 96 | 93 | 14-12 | Won 1 | |
| 27 | December 28 | @ Indiana | Loss | 77 | 91 | 14-13 | Lost 1 | |
| 28 | December 30 | LA Clippers | Win | 105 | 96 | 15-13 | Won 1 | |
| 29 | January 4 | Seattle | Loss | 81 | 84 | 15-14 | Lost 1 | |
| 30 | January 6 | @ Denver | Win | 88 | 86 | 16-14 | Won 1 | |
| 31 | January 8 | @ Utah | Loss | 92 | 94 | 16-15 | Lost 1 | |
| 32 | January 10 | @ Portland | Loss | 89 | 90 | 16-16 | Lost 2 | |
| 33 | January 12 | @ Seattle | Loss | 81 | 113 | 16-17 | Lost 3 | |
| 34 | January 13 | @ Vancouver | Loss | 65 | 69 | 16-18 | Lost 4 | |
| 35 | January 15 | @ LA Lakers | Loss | 88 | 96 | 16-19 | Lost 5 | |
| 36 | January 17 | Washington | Win | 96 | 89 | 17-19 | Won 1 | |
| 37 | January 19 | Charlotte | Loss | 106 | 114 | 17-20 | Lost 1 | |
| 38 | January 20 | @ Atlanta | Loss | 78 | 98 | 17-21 | Lost 2 | |
| 39 | January 22 | San Antonio | Win | 96 | 89 | 18-21 | Won 1 | |
| 40 | January 24 | New York | Loss | 79 | 88 | 18-22 | Lost 1 | |
| 41 | January 26 | @ Chicago | Loss | 80 | 102 | 18-23 | Lost 2 | |
| 42 | January 27 | @ Cleveland | Win | 102 | 85 | 19-23 | Won 1 | |
| 43 | January 29 | @ New York | Loss | 85 | 94 | 19-24 | Lost 1 | |
| 44 | January 30 | Phoenix | Loss | 99 | 114 | 19-25 | Lost 2 | |
| 45 | February 1 | Philadelphia | Win | 124 | 104 | 20-25 | Won 1 | |
| 46 | February 3 | Boston | Loss | 99 | 100 | 20-26 | Lost 1 | |
| 47 | February 5 | Sacramento | Win | 103 | 92 | 21-26 | Won 1 | |
| 48 | February 7 | Atlanta | Win | 101 | 89 | 22-26 | Won 2 | |
| 49 | February 13 | Toronto | Loss | 87 | 98 | 22-27 | Lost 1 | |
| 50 | February 15 | Denver | Win | 97 | 91 | 23-27 | Won 1 | |
| 51 | February 17 | Orlando | Loss | 93 | 95 | 23-28 | Lost 1 | |
| 52 | February 19 | @ Cleveland | Loss | 70 | 73 | 23-29 | Lost 2 | |
| 53 | February 21 | @ Philadelphia | Win | 66 | 57 | 24-29 | Won 1 | |
| 54 | February 23 | Chicago | Win | 113 | 104 | 25-29 | Won 2 | |
| 55 | February 25 | Philadelphia | Win | 108 | 101 | 26-29 | Won 3 | |
| 56 | February 27 | @ New Jersey | Win | 93 | 90 | 27-29 | Won 4 | |
| 57 | February 28 | @ Orlando | Loss | 112 | 116 | 27-30 | Lost 1 | |
| 58 | March 1 | Portland | Loss | 88 | 102 | 27-31 | Lost 2 | |
| 59 | March 3 | @ Minnesota | Loss | 87 | 89 | 27-32 | Lost 3 | |
| 60 | March 5 | Minnesota | Win | 113 | 72 | 28-32 | Won 1 | |
| 61 | March 8 | Toronto | Win | 109 | 79 | 29-32 | Won 2 | |
| 62 | March 10 | Cleveland | Win | 88 | 81 | 30-32 | Won 3 | |
| 63 | March 12 | @ Dallas | Win | 125 | 118 | 31-32 | Won 4 | |
| 64 | March 14 | @ San Antonio | Loss | 100 | 120 | 31-33 | Lost 1 | |
| 65 | March 16 | @ Houston | Win | 121 | 97 | 32-33 | Won 1 | |
| 66 | March 20 | Detroit | Win | 102 | 93 | 33-33 | Won 2 | |
| 67 | March 22 | @ Milwaukee | Win | 122 | 106 | 34-33 | Won 3 | |
| 68 | March 24 | @ Boston | Win | 111 | 95 | 35-33 | Won 4 | |
| 69 | March 27 | LA Lakers | Loss | 95 | 106 | 35-34 | Lost 1 | |
| 70 | March 29 | Washington | Win | 112 | 93 | 36-34 | Won 1 | |
| 71 | March 30 | @ Detroit | Win | 95 | 85 | 37-34 | Won 2 | |
| 72 | April 2 | Chicago | Loss | 92 | 110 | 37-35 | Lost 1 | |
| 73 | April 4 | @ Chicago | Loss | 92 | 100 | 37-36 | Lost 2 | |
| 74 | April 6 | @ Indiana | Loss | 95 | 99 | 37-37 | Lost 3 | |
| 75 | April 8 | @ Washington | Loss | 99 | 111 | 37-38 | Lost 4 | |
| 76 | April 10 | @ Charlotte | Win | 116 | 95 | 38-38 | Won 1 | |
| 77 | April 11 | Milwaukee | Win | 115 | 105 | 39-38 | Won 2 | |
| 78 | April 13 | New York | Win | 103 | 95 | 40-38 | Won 3 | |
| 79 | April 15 | New Jersey | Win | 110 | 90 | 41-38 | Won 4 | |
| 80 | April 17 | @ Philadelphia | Loss | 86 | 90 | 41-39 | Lost 1 | |
| 81 | April 19 | @ Milwaukee | Win | 106 | 100 | 42-39 | Won 1 | |
| 82 | April 21 | Atlanta | Loss | 92 | 104 | 42-40 | Lost 1 | |

## Playoffs

1996 playoff game log :
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 26
@ Chicago
L 85–102
Tim Hardaway (30)
Chris Gatling (9)
Tim Hardaway (7)
United Center 24,104
0–1
2
April 28
@ Chicago
L 75–106
Sasha Danilovic (15)
Chris Gatling (11)
Tim Hardaway (4)
United Center 24,202
0–2
3
May 1
Chicago
L 91–112
Alonzo Mourning (30)
Mourning, Thomas (8)
Tim Hardaway (6)
Miami Arena 15,200
0–3 :
1996 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Keith Askins | SF | 75 | 14 | 1,897 | 324 | 121 | 48 | 61 | 458 | 25.3 | 4.3 | 1.6 | .6 | .8 | 6.1 |
| Kurt Thomas | PF | 74 | 42 | 1,655 | 439 | 46 | 47 | 36 | 666 | 22.4 | 5.9 | .6 | .6 | .5 | 9.0 |
| Alonzo Mourning | C | 70 | 70 | 2,671 | 727 | 159 | 70 | 189 | 1,623 | 38.2 | 10.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 23.2 |
| Rex Chapman | SG | 56 | 50 | 1,865 | 145 | 166 | 45 | 10 | 786 | 33.3 | 2.6 | 3.0 | .8 | .2 | 14.0 |
| Bimbo Coles$^†$ | PG | 52 | 52 | 1,882 | 201 | 296 | 63 | 12 | 664 | 36.2 | 3.9 | 5.7 | 1.2 | .2 | 12.8 |
| Kevin Willis$^†$ | PF | 47 | 42 | 1,357 | 420 | 34 | 19 | 25 | 479 | 28.9 | 8.9 | .7 | .4 | .5 | 10.2 |
| Kevin Gamble$^†$ | SF | 44 | 13 | 1,033 | 86 | 82 | 31 | 5 | 305 | 23.5 | 2.0 | 1.9 | .7 | .1 | 6.9 |
| Billy Owens$^†$ | SF | 40 | 40 | 1,388 | 286 | 134 | 30 | 22 | 590 | 34.7 | 7.2 | 3.4 | .8 | .6 | 14.8 |
| Pete Myers$^†$ | SG | 39 | 1 | 639 | 73 | 97 | 14 | 11 | 184 | 16.4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | .4 | .3 | 4.7 |
| Terrence Rencher$^†$ | PG | 34 | 1 | 397 | 42 | 54 | 16 | 1 | 103 | 11.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | .5 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Danny Schayes | C | 32 | 6 | 399 | 89 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 101 | 12.5 | 2.8 | .3 | .3 | .5 | 3.2 |
| Voshon Lenard | SG | 30 | 0 | 323 | 52 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 176 | 10.8 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .2 | .0 | 5.9 |
| Tim Hardaway$^†$ | PG | 28 | 28 | 1,047 | 98 | 280 | 58 | 6 | 482 | 37.4 | 3.5 | 10.0 | 2.1 | .2 | 17.2 |
| Walt Williams$^†$ | SF | 28 | 28 | 788 | 112 | 65 | 32 | 16 | 337 | 28.1 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 1.1 | .6 | 12.0 |
| Tony Smith$^†$ | SG | 25 | 1 | 410 | 39 | 68 | 16 | 5 | 109 | 16.4 | 1.6 | 2.7 | .6 | .2 | 4.4 |
| Chris Gatling$^†$ | PF | 24 | 0 | 565 | 175 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 365 | 23.5 | 7.3 | .7 | .7 | .5 | 15.2 |
| Tyrone Corbin$^†$ | SF | 22 | 0 | 354 | 65 | 23 | 16 | 3 | 101 | 16.1 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .7 | .1 | 4.6 |
| Predrag Danilović | SG | 19 | 18 | 542 | 46 | 47 | 15 | 3 | 255 | 28.5 | 2.4 | 2.5 | .8 | .2 | 13.4 |
| Ronnie Grandison$^†$ | PF | 18 | 3 | 235 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 43 | 13.1 | 2.0 | .6 | .4 | .1 | 2.4 |
| Stacey King | PF | 15 | 0 | 156 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 38 | 10.4 | 1.5 | .1 | .5 | .1 | 2.5 |
| LeRon Ellis | C | 12 | 1 | 74 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 6.2 | .7 | .3 | .2 | .3 | 1.1 |
| Jeff Malone$^†$ | SG | 7 | 0 | 103 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 14.7 | 1.1 | 1.0 | .4 | .0 | 4.4 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Heat only.

### Playoffs

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Tim Hardaway | PG | 3 | 3 | 110 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 36.7 | 1.7 | 5.7 | 1.0 | .0 | 17.7 |
| Alonzo Mourning | C | 3 | 3 | 92 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 54 | 30.7 | 6.0 | 1.3 | .7 | 1.0 | 18.0 |
| Rex Chapman | SG | 3 | 3 | 88 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 29.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 | .0 | 9.0 |
| Walt Williams | SF | 3 | 3 | 70 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 23.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | .3 | .3 | 4.7 |
| Kurt Thomas | PF | 3 | 3 | 60 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 20.0 | 5.3 | 1.0 | .7 | .3 | 4.0 |
| Chris Gatling | PF | 3 | 0 | 68 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 22.7 | 8.0 | .3 | .7 | .0 | 6.0 |
| Tony Smith | SG | 3 | 0 | 61 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 20.3 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | .0 | 7.3 |
| Predrag Danilović | SG | 3 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 20.0 | .3 | 1.3 | .3 | .0 | 8.3 |
| Keith Askins | SF | 3 | 0 | 48 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 16.0 | 2.7 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 4.3 |
| Tyrone Corbin | SF | 2 | 0 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 17.0 | 3.5 | .5 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.5 |
| Danny Schayes | C | 2 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8.5 | 2.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 3.5 |
| Stacey King | PF | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |

## Transactions

July 1, 1995
* Released Brad Lohaus.
* Released Ledell Eackles.
September 1, 1995
* Traded a 1996 1st round draft pick (Walter McCarty) to the New York Knicks for Pat Riley (coach).
September 29, 1995
* Brad Lohaus signed as an unrestricted free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.
October 5, 1995
* Signed Ron Grandison as a free agent.
* Signed Stacey King as a free agent.
* Signed Bruce Bowen as a free agent.
October 13, 1995
* Waived Bruce Bowen.
November 3, 1995
* Traded Matt Geiger, Khalid Reeves, Glen Rice, and a 1996 1st round draft pick (Tony Delk) to the Charlotte Hornets for LeRon Ellis, Alonzo Mourning, and Pete Myers.
December 12, 1995
* Signed Danny Schayes to a contract for remainder of season.
December 27, 1995
* Waived LeRon Ellis.
December 29, 1995
* Signed Voshon Lenard as a free agent.
January 5, 1996
* Waived Ron Grandison.
February 12, 1996
* Signed Jeff Malone to a 10-day contract.
* Waived Pete Myers.
February 22, 1996
* Traded Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis to the Golden State Warriors for Chris Gatling and Tim Hardaway.
* Traded Kevin Gamble and Billy Owens to the Sacramento Kings for Tyrone Corbin and Walt Williams.
* Traded Terrence Rencher to the Phoenix Suns for Tony Smith.
March 3, 1996
* Signed Jeff Malone to a contract for remainder of season.
June 26, 1996
* Traded a 2000 1st round draft pick (DeShawn Stevenson) to the Utah Jazz for Martin Müürsepp.
Player Transactions Citation:

## Postseason

The Heat would qualify for the playoffs by beating out the Charlotte Hornets by 1 game for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a record of 42 wins and 40 losses. In the playoffs, the Heat were swept in 3 straight games. The Heat would lose by double digits in each game to the eventual World Champion Chicago Bulls.

## Awards, records, and honors

Pat Riley led the Heat to a 42–40 record which tying the franchise record for best record. Alonzo Mourning was voted by fans to be in the All-Star Game.