The 2012–13 Miami Heat season was the franchise's 25th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They came into the season as the defending NBA champions, back-to-back Eastern Conference champions, the first season playing with the "Big 4" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen, and the fifth season under head coach Erik Spoelstra.
During the season, the Heat embarked on a 27-game winning streak, which at the time ranked as the second longest winning streak in NBA history, and finished with a 66–16 record, the best record with the Big Three and a franchise best. James, Wade and Bosh were all selected for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, while James won his fourth NBA Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season, just one vote shy of winning the award unanimously.
On June 3, 2013, the Heat defeated the Indiana Pacers in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals to become the first team since the Chicago Bulls in 1998 to three-peat as Eastern Conference champions. The Heat then defeated the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Finals that went the full seven games, in effect handing the Spurs their first loss in the NBA Finals, and with this victory in the NBA Finals, it echoed the 1997–98 Bulls, as they had also been the last Eastern Conference team to repeat as NBA champions.
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Key dates
June 28: The 2012 NBA draft took place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
July 11: In an utmost to bolster the roster, the Heat signed NBA veterans Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made at the time.
October 30: The Heat opened the season with a 120–107 home victory over the Boston Celtics. The previous year's players received their championship rings and the team raised their 2nd championship banner into the American Airlines Arena rafters.
November 3: LeBron James was honored before the game when the team raised a banner for his Olympic achievement. He is the fourth player in Heat history to win a gold medal, joining Dwyane Wade, Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning.
November 21: Udonis Haslem surpassed Alonzo Mourning in all-time rebounding for the Miami Heat and became the first undrafted player in NBA history to lead a franchise in rebounding. Adding to this accomplishment, Haslem has now starred in the most Miami Heat games played, one more than fellow captain Dwyane Wade.
November 24: Chris Bosh surpassed the 13,000-point plateau.
December 15: For the first time in franchise history, all 13 active players scored at least three points and converted one made field goal.
December 25: Mike Miller surpassed the 10,000-point plateau.
January 5: Terrel Harris was released.
January 7: Josh Harrellson was released.
January 8: Jarvis Varnado signed to a ten-day contract after being released from the Boston Celtics.
Draft picks
a Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for draft rights to Justin Hamilton and a future first-round pick.
Regular season
Playoffs
NBA records
The following records were set or tied by the Heat this season-
Most wins in a month: The Heat went 17–1 in March 2013, becoming the first team to win 17 games in a single calendar month in NBA history.
Second longest win streak in a season: The Heat went on a 27-game win streak, becoming the second team with the longest win streak in a season behind the Lakers (33).
Overtime in Postseason: The HEAT's 103–100 overtime win vs. SA on June 18, 2013, improved their all-time postseason overtime record to 8-1 (.889). Their .889 postseason winning percentage is the best among teams with at least three overtime games played and the second-highest among all teams.
DOUBLE-DIGIT wins in Postseason: The HEAT's 16-point, 109–93, win in Game Four of the NBA Finals at SA on June 13, 2013, was Miami's 12th double-figure win in the 2013 postseason. The 12 double-digit wins are the most by any team during a single postseason in NBA history. The previous record was 11, held by five different teams, each winning the NBA Championship that postseason. This record would later be tied by the 2013-14 San Antonio Spurs and the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.
Highest Field Goal Made Percentage, post season: Chris "Birdman" Andersen shot 80.7 percent (46-of-57) from the field in the 2013 postseason. He has become the first player in NBA postseason history to take at least 35 shots and shoot better than 75 percent from the field.
SIX AND SEVEN over 30 points: LeBron James scored 32 points in Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 18, 2013, and then made 37 points in Game Seven on June 20, 2013. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first player in NBA history to score consecutive 30-point games to help rally his team from a 3–2 series deficit to win an NBA title.
GAME SEVEN over 30 Points: LeBron James finished the 2013 postseason by recording his fourth-straight 30-point Game Seven by scoring 37 points vs. SA in the NBA Finals. He had previously scored 32 points vs. IND on June 3, 2013, 31 points vs. BOS on June 9, 2012, and 45 points at BOS on May 18, 2008. The Elias Sports Bureau reports he has tied the record of the only other player to score at least 30 points in four consecutive Game Seven's, Elgin Baylor (33 at STL on 3/26/60, 39 at STL on 4/1/61, 41 at BOS on 4/18/62, 35 vs. STL on 4/11/63 & 33 vs. STL on 4/15/66).
Injuries
Dwyane Wade underwent surgery on his left knee following the end of the 2011–12 season. Wade returned in time for the Heat's second pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the MasterCard Center in Beijing, China.
Player statistics
Transactions
Overview
a Cut from the roster during training camp.