# 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.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 4 | Glen Rice | SF | United States | Michigan |
| 2 | 28 | Sherman Douglas | PG | United States | Syracuse |
| 2 | 45 | Scott Haffner | | United States | Evansville |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Philadelphia 76ers | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 34–7 | 19–22 | 19–7 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 1 | 30–11 | 22–19 | 19–7 |
| x-New York Knicks | 45 | 37 | .549 | 8 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 17–9 |
| Washington Bullets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 22 | 20–21 | 11–30 | 10–16 |
| Miami Heat | 18 | 64 | .220 | 35 | 11–30 | 7–34 | 4–22 |
| New Jersey Nets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 36 | 13–28 | 4–37 | 9–17 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Detroit Pistons | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
| 2 | y-Philadelphia 76ers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 55 | 27 | .671 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Boston Celtics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 |
| 10 | Washington Bullets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
| 11 | Miami Heat | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
| 12 | Orlando Magic | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
| 13 | New Jersey Nets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 42 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1989–90 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 | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Charlotte | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 |
| Chicago | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 0–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Milwaukee | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| New York | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
| Orlando | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 5–0 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1989–90 game log Total: 18–64 (home: 11–30; road: 7–34) :
November: 4–12 (home: 2–4; road: 2–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 3, 1989
New Jersey
L 90–110
Miami Arena
0–1
2
November 4, 1989
@ New York
L 99–119
Madison Square Garden
0–2
3
November 7, 1989
@ New Jersey
W 83–77
Brendan Byrne Arena
1–2
4
November 8, 1989
@ Philadelphia
L 91–115
The Spectrum
1–3
5
November 10, 1989
@ Indiana
L 98–102
Market Square Arena
1–4
6
November 11, 1989
Detroit
W 88–84
Miami Arena
2–4
7
November 14, 1989
Houston
W 101–99
Miami Arena
3–4
8
November 15, 1989
@ Detroit
L 94–120
The Palace of Auburn Hills
3–5
9
November 18, 1989
@ Dallas
L 99–100
Reunion Arena
3–6
10
November 19, 1989
@ Houston
L 94–120
The Summit
3–7
11
November 21, 1989
@ Charlotte
W 98–87
Charlotte Coliseum
4–7
12
November 22, 1989
Philadelphia
L 103–113
Miami Arena
4–8 :
December: 3–11 (home: 1–7; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
17
December 1, 1989
@ New Jersey
L 77–101
Brendan Byrne Arena
4–13
20
December 6, 1989
@ Philadelphia
L 98–121
The Spectrum
4–16
25
December 19, 1989
New Jersey
L 98–100
Miami Arena
7–18
28
December 26, 1989
New York
L 94–100
Miami Arena
7–21 :
January: 2–13 (home: 1–6; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
39
January 17, 1990
Indiana
W 121–111
Miami Arena
9–30
40
January 19, 1990
Philadelphia
L 95–102
Miami Arena
9–31
44
January 26, 1990
@ Indiana
L 105–115
Market Square Arena
9–35 :
February: 3–10 (home: 3–5; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
February 5, 1990
@ New York
L 107–116
Madison Square Garden
10–37
All-Star Break
52
February 17, 1990
Detroit
L 79–97
Miami Arena
10–42
53
February 19, 1990
@ Detroit
L 85–94
The Palace of Auburn Hills
10–42
55
February 23, 1990
New York
W 128–121
Miami Arena
11–44 :
March: 5–9 (home: 3–5; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
62
March 11, 1990
New York
L 90–106
Miami Arena
14–48
67
March 20, 1990
Indiana
L 98–112
Miami Arena
15–52
68
March 21, 1990
@ Philadelphia
L 97–118
The Spectrum
15–53
69
March 23, 1990
Dallas
L 103–106
Miami Arena
15–54 :
April: 1–9 (home: 1–3; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 8, 1990
@ New Jersey
L 101–102
Brendan Byrne Arena
17–59
79
April 16, 1990
@ New York
L 102–119
Madison Square Garden
17–62
80
April 18, 1990
Charlotte
L 91–98
Miami Arena
17–63 :
1989–90 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Ragular season

| Player | POS | GP | GS | MP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Rory Sparrow | PG | 82 | 25 | 1,756 | 138 | 298 | 49 | 4 | 487 | 21.4 | 1.7 | 3.6 | .6 | .0 | 5.9 |
| Sherman Douglas | PG | 81 | 66 | 2,470 | 206 | 619 | 145 | 10 | 1,155 | 30.5 | 2.5 | 7.6 | 1.8 | .1 | 14.3 |
| Grant Long | PF | 81 | 31 | 1,856 | 402 | 96 | 91 | 38 | 686 | 22.9 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 1.1 | .5 | 8.5 |
| Billy Thompson | SF | 79 | 45 | 2,142 | 551 | 166 | 54 | 89 | 867 | 27.1 | 7.0 | 2.1 | .7 | 1.1 | 11.0 |
| Kevin Edwards | SG | 78 | 54 | 2,211 | 282 | 252 | 125 | 33 | 938 | 28.3 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 1.6 | .4 | 12.0 |
| Glen Rice | SF | 77 | 60 | 2,311 | 352 | 138 | 67 | 27 | 1,048 | 30.0 | 4.6 | 1.8 | .9 | .4 | 13.6 |
| Tellis Frank | PF | 77 | 39 | 1,762 | 385 | 85 | 51 | 27 | 735 | 22.9 | 5.0 | 1.1 | .7 | .4 | 9.5 |
| Rony Seikaly | C | 74 | 72 | 2,409 | 766 | 78 | 78 | 124 | 1,228 | 32.6 | 10.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 16.6 |
| Terry Davis | PF | 63 | 9 | 884 | 229 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 298 | 14.0 | 3.6 | .4 | .4 | .4 | 4.7 |
| Jon Sundvold | SG | 63 | 2 | 867 | 71 | 102 | 25 | 0 | 384 | 13.8 | 1.1 | 1.6 | .4 | .0 | 6.1 |
| Scott Haffner | PG | 43 | 6 | 559 | 51 | 80 | 13 | 2 | 196 | 13.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | .3 | .0 | 4.6 |
| Pat Cummings | C | 37 | 1 | 391 | 93 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 175 | 10.6 | 2.5 | .4 | .3 | .1 | 4.7 |
| Jim Rowinski | PF | 14 | 0 | 112 | 29 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 8.0 | 2.1 | .4 | .1 | .1 | 3.6 |