South Florida Local News

Boca Raton sees a first-of-its-kind opportunity in paying up to $160,000 for two county workers who will assist the city’s homeless population, part of a timely response to the state’s new ban against sleeping in public spaces.

If approved by the county, Boca Raton would be the first city to employ this type of homeless outreach team in collaboration with the county, but officials hope it’s the first of many.

City Council members recently approved a plan to fund two new employees hired by the county who would conduct homeless outreach services in the city for a maximum of $160,000 until a renewal after one year, according to city documents. This money would go toward “services and materials provided by the county,” and would be paid in monthly increments as long as the county employees fulfill their responsibilities.

This homeless outreach team would be tasked with locating, identifying and reaching out to people within Boca Raton’s boundaries who are experiencing “literal homelessness.”

City officials defined this in city documents as: “Individuals or families who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including those living in places not meant for human habitation (e.g., streets, cars, parks), staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing, or exiting an institution (e.g., hospital, jail) where they resided for fewer than 90 days and were homeless prior to entry.”

The outreach team members would try to connect people who are unsheltered with the appropriate mental health, substance abuse, medical or housing services, including county shelters.

The outreach employees also would submit monthly reports to the city with information about the number of people served, demographic details, the number of referrals made and program outcomes such as any housing placements or medical services provided.

“The county has a wealth of services, and we’ve got providers in the city who are helping them with short-term needs. The goal is to get people long-term, sustainable solutions so that they have a better quality of life and also we’re ensuring the quality of life in our city,” Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer said.

This year’s point-in-time count conducted by the county — which is a survey of the number of people experiencing homelessness in a set time period, such as 24 hours — found 1,520 people experiencing homelessness on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31.

This outcome was an overall decrease of about 28.5% compared to the 2,126 people identified in 2024, though experts questioned whether Florida’s public sleeping ban was a contributing factor. People who are unsheltered may now be harder to find as they seek refuge in places where law enforcement cannot find them.

Though Singer isn’t certain about the exact number of people experiencing homelessness in the city, he said the last count he’s aware of was “surprisingly low for a city of our size.” Still, any number is too much.

“Our goal is to get down to zero. We want to ensure the quality of life for all residents,” he said.

Singer said he thinks the program will be a success that other cities may then latch onto. Palm Beach County Community Services Department director James Green hopes other cities adopt this homeless outreach program as well.

“Our goal is to encourage more municipalities to engage in a process similar to this,” Green said.

And if the county commissioners approve the collaboration, then the county will have “more boots on the ground to be able to respond to calls,” Green said.

A man with his pillow, blanket and belongings is seen at Hughes Park in Boca Raton on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The county currently has a homeless assistance portal where county residents and law enforcement may report people who are unsheltered. They then may be connected with outreach team members for services.

“This is a very large county, and we have limited capacity to respond to all of the requests that are out there to cover the entire county, and so we want to work with our partners, including our municipalities, to build capacity in that area,” Green said.

John Fumero, an attorney with Nason Yeager, whose practice includes representing governmental entities across the state, weighed in on Boca Raton’s homeless outreach team idea.

“Homelessness is not a very localized problem. It’s a regional problem, it’s a state problem,” Fumero said. “That’s why I think it makes a great deal of sense for cities to work hand-in-hand with counties to deal with this issue, because it’s not just an issue for a particular city or local government. These are regional issues.”

Without a “multi-jurisdictional approach,” people who are homeless aren’t getting actual help; rather, they will just be pushed to a different municipality, Fumero said.

If, for example, Boca Raton officials tried to tackle the city’s homelessness problem all on their own, then it’s likely the people experiencing homeless in Boca Raton would just end up moving to surrounding municipalities such as Delray Beach or Highland Beach.

“You cannot have each local government doing its own thing without collaborating with the other, because what one government does can have an effect, a direct effect, on a neighboring local government,” Fumero said.

The Palm Beach County Commission will cast a vote during an upcoming meeting on whether to approve the collaboration with Boca Raton for the homeless outreach team.

Q: Ira, after what happened with Jimmy Butler, do you think the Heat step up right away with the extension for Tyler Herro? Doesn’t Pat Riley have to show that the organization will do right by its best players? – Gary.

A: First, the Heat have stepped up right away before, in fact doing it twice with Bam Adebayo as soon as he became eligible for his last two extensions. So that, right there, is a counter to the Jimmy Butler situation. With the Butler situation, it wasn’t as much Pat Riley rejecting the possibility of an eventual extension, but rather wanting to wait to see if attendance would be an issue. An advantage with Tyler Herro is that his extension window does not open until October, so the Heat, in his case, will have time to sort out their offseason first. which also could afford a better read into how a Herro extension would factor into future payrolls. And then there is the matter of the money. Just because a player is eligible for a maximum extension doesn’t mean he has to get the max (although it does tend to wind up that way in today’s NBA). Based on Tyler’s current contract, he will be eligible for a three-year, $150 million extension that would start in 2027-28 at a salary of $46.2 million. So it comes down to whether the Heat view Tyler going forward as a $50 million player. But also appreciate that if Tyler opts to wait, he would be eligible to extend in the 2026 offseason for $207 million over four seasons, to be tacked onto the end of his current deal. So, as always, the dollars have to make sense.

Related Articles

• Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!

Q: This team reminds me of the 2003- 24 Heat when Rafer Alston hit a big shot with .5 seconds to go to win a game against the Dallas Mavericks on national television. The Heat started the season 0-7, but won 17 of the last 21 games.  The players all seemed to be having fun. – Stuart, Miami.

A: Hmm, Davion Mitchell as Rafer Alston? That works for me, both with their gregarious personalities and high degrees of confidence. And, yes, this does now feel like many of the Heat’s underdog seasons. It almost makes you wonder what might have been with that 11-30 and then 30-11 team in 2016-17 had there been a play-in round back then.

Q: Ira, it’s a shame Nikola Jovic hasn’t been able to make it back. What’s next? – Lawrence.

A: That will be interesting. At the time he broke his hand in February in Milwaukee, Nikola Jovic had just been able to re-emerge, making himself not only a rotation piece for Erik Spoelstra, but also a potential asset in a trade. Now the question is whether the latter remains true. And that’s significant for the Heat, given their lack of assets in terms of personnel. No one is taking Terry Rozier at this point, Jaime Jaquez Jr. certainly is a diminished asset and Duncan Robinson likely would be most valued as an expiring contract. So when it comes to sweeteners beyond the Heat’s main assets, it could be Nikola or bust on the trade market.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claim that autistic children will never pay taxes, hold jobs or go out on dates is not just false. It’s harmful.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the Autism report by the CDC at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

As a certified education specialist and a tutor to those with autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), I work every day with students on the spectrum.

I have seen autistic learners master subjects they were once told they would never understand. I’ve seen them graduate, get jobs and build meaningful relationships.

These students are not doomed to a life of isolation. They thrive when given the right support.

RFK Jr.’s remarks reinforce outdated and destructive stereotypes. They undermine the progress so many families and educators have worked hard to achieve. They further stigmatize a population that already faces enormous societal barriers.

Autistic children are capable, intelligent and yes, they absolutely pay taxes, hold jobs and go on dates. I’ve watched it happen — more than once. All of our students deserve better than RFK Jr.

Dr. Gene Klein, Deerfield Beach

Unfair treatment in Delray Beach

Re: Delray Beach terminates fire-rescue driver-engineer in Brightline collision, by Angie DiMichele

(A copy of a letter to Delray Beach City Manager Terrence Moore):

No one should find out they’ve been terminated from a press release.

No notice, no hearing, no formal communication. Just a public statement designed for headlines. That’s not accountability. That is an attempt to undermine someone who has given over 20 years of service to his city.

Due process is a right, not a courtesy, and it’s one the city of Delray Beach agreed to in collective bargaining. If you decide to ignore that, we’ll see you at arbitration.

This was an accident, not willful misconduct. But the city and your office rushed to judgment and made it public. That says more about your priorities than it does about this firefighter and his service to the city.

When mistakes are made, they should be addressed through proper channels. The process exists to ensure that facts are reviewed, context is considered, and decisions are made fairly.

IAFF Local 1842 has acted decisively and appropriately throughout this matter and they have my full support.

To our Brother, David Wyatt, your IAFF is with you. We will continue to fight for fairness and accountability.

Walter J. Dix, Weston

The writer is district vice president, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

A deportation disaster

President Trump’s deportations are undeniably racist.

Most agree the U.S. should deport illegals, especially those with criminal records. Trump unilaterally expanded it, to include deporting non-white people with valid credentials and no criminal record and without due process.

If a mistake were made, returning a wrongly deported person is the logical resolution. So we must ask, what reason could the federal government have for risking judicial contempt rather than returning a person they paid another country to wrongly imprisoned? Could their lack of due process have led to an innocent being grievously injured or killed?

Similarly, eliminating DEI was proffered as a way to ensure merit-based hiring, yet an examination of our Cabinet and agency heads suggests that merit was not the prime objective.

A lower bar has never been set for those charged with running the country for the benefit of U.S. taxpayers. The singular qualifications appear to be, not merit, but donations and loyalty-based hiring.

Ridding America of DEI is sanitizing history. Our tax dollars are being used to bully schools, museums and parks into removing history about America that is true but not consistent with Trump’s worldview.

Linda S. Bittner, Port Charlotte

How to save America

Impeach Trump. We can do better! We need to see new faces of dedicated Americans in public office.

Audrey Frieman, Pembroke Pines

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length. 

[contact-form]

General Daily Insight for April 20, 2025

The truth can transform us. As balanced Venus works well with innovative Uranus, we’re provided with better ways of creating harmony and stability in our everyday lives. Communicative Mercury sextiles intense Pluto at 5:40 pm EDT, strengthening each of us to speak the truth from our hearts. Still, when the self-assured Sun grumbles at fiery Mars, trusting ourselves may seem foolish or even painful. We could be prone to getting frustrated or making rash decisions. Don’t let temporary frustrations undo positive progress!

Aries

March 21 – April 19

You might encounter an opportunity to express yourself to a group of people. It may be that you want to join this group, but be aware that the way that you do this might affect how the other members see you. You probably don’t want to come across as desperate, but you also don’t want to be perceived as presumptive. Rather than listing all the reasons that you “should” join, be yourself and stay humble. Everything will work out for your highest good.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

A strong focus will take you far. Currently, certain others may not understand your drive when it comes to making your career work or ensuring a passion project comes to fruition. Your determination will be what gets you to the finish line! It’s not about whether you become rich and famous by completing your goals — it’s about doing what you set out to do and showing yourself that it IS possible. You can do practically anything with the right mindset.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

A group trip may be coming to fruition. People in your life could be planning a trip to a fun location — and you might be invited for the ride. This could be something that you’ve been talking about for a long time, and you’re excited to finally make it happen. However, this is something that requires planning and organization. If you don’t have these elements in place, then the journey might be less enjoyable than anticipated. Be serious about having fun!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

You’re deciding where you go from here. You might be at a fork in the road, and it could be about your career or other responsibilities in your life. Maybe someone is offering you the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around every day. It’s also possible that someone wants your help, and this person could majorly boost you in return — if you set aside other responsibilities to assist them. Factor in the opportunity cost either way, but be sure to follow your heart.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You may learn something new about someone important to you. They might be opening up to you in unfamiliar ways, possibly while you’re both enjoying a change of scenery. This doesn’t mean that you have to go on vacation together — it could be as simple as a walk through a park neither of you have visited while discussing matters that haven’t come up before. Don’t be afraid of these unknown horizons! Welcome them with open arms and be as understanding as possible.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Negative influences don’t deserve a place in your life. If old “friends” are trying to drag you back into bad habits, don’t hesitate to resist them — even if it sounds fun. You could find that they want to see the old you more than they want to see the new you, even though your old self was a less healthy version. It’s okay to outgrow people in favor of those who are living the lifestyle that you currently practice. Do what’s right for you.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Someone else’s words may call you to action. You might have forgotten about a goal of yours until someone brings it up, potentially by mentioning your past and how you used to care so deeply about this subject, or through talking about how they’ve pursued a similar subject. It can be shocking to realize how much you still care, so seize the chance to revisit what excited you about it. Who knows, it could have an amazing second act in your life!

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

You might be overhauling your living space. It’s up to you how much you decide to do, but you have the potential for anything, from minor decluttering to major DIYs. Take any free time today to work on making the place that you call home a sanctuary, where you can feel at peace from morning till evening. The more stress that you feel in your home, the more likely you are to take that stress into the world and find more there. Cultivate contentment.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Taking a risky shot might be your best option! The daring mindset of today is encouraging you to say what’s really on your mind and avoid hesitating for too long. While doing so can cut through any awkward tension that may be lingering between you and another person, it’s still a good idea to think before you speak. Remember to have compassion for yourself and the other person involved. Speaking too quickly could lead to more problems than there were in the first place.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You’re letting go of the past, even though your pursuit of security may make it hard to genuinely feel secure for the moment. You might feel as though you’re losing something to gain something, sacrificing the former stability of a job, home, or relationship — even if you’re gaining newfound satisfaction in a new job, place, or person. It can be scary to take that leap, but when your intuition is calling you to go somewhere else, it’s a good idea to listen.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Let your intensity shine through! Your surety in your principles might be intimidating for other people who aren’t so certain of their boundaries or determined to succeed. That, in turn, can be isolating for those like you, who embody these qualities. You may have to stand alone for a bit, but eventually, people will see that you have a genuine spirit. The ones who aren’t threatened by you will be lifted up by your resolve! Surround yourself with people who can stand the heat.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Spiritual practices may be taking on a more significant role in your life. You may feel like you’re stepping into a more intuitive era of your life, one in which you’re able to heal your soul by listening to it without the world’s noise in the way. You could discover that others perceive you differently — maybe they don’t know what to make of it right away. Regardless, don’t feel as though you have to hide who you are. Stand in your truth.

By JOE REEDY

CLEVELAND (AP) — Benjamin Cremaschi scored on a diving header in the 30th minute and Inter Miami beat the Columbus Crew 1-0 on Saturday.

The matchup between the lone remaining undefeated teams in Major League Soccer drew 60,614 fans to Huntington Bank Field, a single-game record for a Crew home match and the largest non-NFL event in stadium history.

The match was moved from Columbus to the home of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns due to the popularity of Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi.

It is the second time this season and ninth since Messi joined MLS in 2023 that Inter Miami has had a road crowd of at least 60,000.

“He’s the greatest player to play the sport. That’s why he attracts so many people to watch him,” Cremaschi said. “We’re playing away but sometimes we feel at home. I think everything goes away in the moment and we focus on our goal.”

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, center Tristan Thompson and Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy were among the crowd.

Inter Miami improved to 5-0-3 while Columbus dropped to 5-1-3.

Oscar Ustari made three diving saves in the second half to keep the shutout intact.

Miami took the lead in the 30th minute when midfielder Marcelo Weigandt sent a crossing pass into the center of the box. Columbus defender Malte Amundsen was step for step with Cremaschi, but the 20-year-old midfielder got to the ball in time and put it past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte for his first goal of the season.

Cremaschi scored in front of Cleveland’s Dawg Pound section, which was filled with Crew supporters.

“It was the only way to get to the ball,” Cremaschi said of diving for the header.

The goal was also the first in 277 minutes scored by a Miami player other than Messi.

Messi had a chance to make it 2-0 during stoppage time in the first half, but was just to the left of the net with a blast from the top of the box.

“It was loud, when you play at home it is your natural fans. I like that we pushed and we reversed the crowd. It was a good experience,” Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said.

___

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

By DAN GELSTON

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Trea Turner went had four hits, Bryson Stott and Johan Rojas each had three and the Philadelphia Phillies survived Miami’s six-run ninth inning to beat the Marlins 11-10 on Saturday.

Philadelphia scored seven runs over the third and fourth inning to seemingly blow open the game and went on to outhit the Marlins 18-15 win for the fourth time in five games.

Dane Myers hit a three-run homer and Liam Hicks added a two-run shot, both off Jordan Romano as part of a six-run ninth for the Marlins. Romano, in the midst of a rough first season in Philly, was heavily booed as he trudged off the mound.

José Alvarado got the final out in the ninth for his fifth save.

The NL East champion Phillies pounded a Marlins staff sapped of real depth this early in the season. Cal Quantrill (1-2) gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings and Patrick Monteverde, in his big-league debut, allowed four runs over 3 2/3 innings.

The Phillies have gone 11 straight series at home without losing a series. The Phillies can complete a three-game sweep on Sunday. The Marlins (8-12) have lost five games in a row.

Philadelphia won this one without hitting a home run — the Phillies have 20 this season.

They led 2-0 in the third when Max Kepler’s shot to right appeared to be misplayed by Kyle Stowers and landed for a two-run double. Bryson Stott added a two-RBI double in the fourth and Turner, a graduate of Park Vista High School in Lake Worth, had his second run-scoring hit in two innings for a 7-1 lead.

Even with the big lead, Phillies manager Rob Thomson did not send starter Taijuan Walker out to pitch the fifth to try and earn a win. The right-hander was pulled after 56 pitches, three walks and a run in four innings.

Matt Strahm (1-0) tossed a scoreless fifth and the Phillies used three relievers to finish off the win.

Key moment

The Marlins hope they won’t lose left fielder Griffin Conine for any length of time after he injured his left shoulder on a headfirst slide into second and left the game. He was escorted off the field after his RBI double in the sixth inning made it 9-2.

Key stat

The Phillies 6-through-9 hitters had nine hits.

Up next

The Marlins send RHP Connor Gillispie (0-2, 6.63 ERA) to the mound against Philadelphia LHP Jesús Luzardo (2-0, 2.31 ERA).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

As UCF stepped onto the field for its first practice of the spring football camp in early March, anticipation and uncertainty surrounded the team.

The Knights were undergoing a transformation and grappling with numerous unanswered questions.

With 40 new players joining the ranks and a completely revamped coaching staff, expectations were clouded by the unknown. Even coach Scott Frost was unsure.

Fast forward through five weeks and 15 rigorous practices, UCF concluded its spring camp on a sunny Saturday. It helped Frost paint a clearer picture of the team he would guide this upcoming season.

“There’s potential right now, but I see a lot of people getting better,” Frost said. “There are some guys who were here before that have surprised me. The staff did a good job evaluating many of the additions that we made, and those individuals showed up and were as good, or in some cases, even better than what we expected.

“We’ve got the makings of a really solid team, but we have a long way to go.”

Five things learned from this spring camp:

Players received a lot of information

From the very beginning, Frost and his staff have thrown a lot at the players in the classrooms and on the field — a move they believed would help them in the long run.

“It’s good and bad. We skipped over and flew over a lot of detail that we’re going to have to circle back and cover, but that was the plan,” said Frost. “Rather than to be simple and fine tune everything before we move on, we wanted to throw the majority of the playbook at them and let them at least have heard it and digested and understand what it means.

“Summer is going to be important for us. Fall camp will be really important for us to put the finishing touches on a lot of things.”

Health remains a significant concern

The Knights made it out of camp relatively healthy. However, the team will be without receiver Day Day Farmer and offensive guard Justin Roye after season-ending injuries in camp.

“As a coach, you’re happy when you don’t have a lot of season-ending injuries in spring,” said Frost.

Several players were limited, including edge rushers Malachi Lawrence and John Walker, who wore non-contact jerseys, as well as receivers Marcus Burke and Dwartney Wortham, offensive linemen Laparka Langston and Jakiah Leftwich and quarterback Cam Fancher.

No clear-cut QB has emerged

For the first time since 2020, UCF will enter a season without a No. 1 at quarterback.

Transfers Tayven Jackson and Fancher, along with returning player Jacurri Brown, have been competing for the starting position. The departure of Dylan Rizk has left the Knights somewhat short on options, but they are expected to add another quarterback.

“Throwing the whole playbook at them is probably toughest on the quarterbacks,” said Frost. “At times, we probably did them a disservice by throwing so much at them, and the detail wasn’t there. But I saw improvement by all the guys that are here, and I don’t think that is completely unveiled itself as to the order of those guys right now, but they’ve all done some good things.”

Major overhaul at linebacker once again awaits UCF

Transfer portal continues to loom 

The spring transfer window opened Wednesday and it didn’t take long before several players entered it. Among those to transfer was Rizk, who started the final four games last season, offensive lineman Waltclaire Flynn Jr., linebacker DJ McCormick and defensive back Tre’Quon Fegans.

“The thing we can do to make sure that we try to retain our talent here is have an environment that they enjoy coming to, where they have people that they know care about them,” said Frost. “We’ve got some good men on this coaching staff that genuinely care about the guys and want what’s best for them and there’s a ton of opportunity here. If we have a place that kids enjoy coming, you don’t have as many that want to leave. I’m sure there’ll still be some movement, but for the most part, I think the guys are pretty happy.”

The Knights have needs at quarterback, running back, receiver and offensive line, but none so critical as special teams, which featured just three skill position players: kicker Grant Reddick and punters Michael Carter and Kevin Carrigan.

Expect leaders to emerge this summer

It was a conscious effort by Frost to avoid promoting players to leadership roles in spring camp.

“One of the big things on offense and defense that we need to identify as leadership at this point,” he said. “We’ve intentionally not elevated guys into leadership roles yet, until we were familiar with the guys. A team is powerful when leadership originates from within the locker room, rather than solely from the coaching staff.”

Frost pointed to safety Braeden Marshall, Lawrence and Walker as showing strong leadership despite being limited this spring.

“We’ll do some things coming off spring ball to help allow those guys to step into those type of roles and and then let the team decide who the best leaders are,” said Frost.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Email: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Sign up for the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF coverage.

CLEVELAND — They climbed the mountain, overcame daunting odds, achieved the improbable.

Yet for all the Miami Heat accomplished in defeating the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks in the play-in round to become the first 10th place team to make the NBA playoffs, all Erik Spoelstra’s team is faced with is … having to do it again.

Another mountain. Even more daunting odds. And improbable bordering on impossible.

Say what you want about the Bulls and Hawks having homecourt advantage against the Heat, but they, too, like the Heat, were teams with losing records, in fact teams that had sold out some of their present for the future with midseason trades (the Bulls shipping out Zach LaVine; the Hawks dealing De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic).

Up next for the Heat is the real deal, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, in a best-of-seven series that opens 7 p.m. Sunday at Rocket Arena (TNT, FanDuel Sports Network Sun):

— At 64-18, Cleveland finished with the league’s No. 1 offensive rating and No.8 defensive rating (compared to the Heat’s No. 21 offensive rating and No. 9 defensive rating);

— The Cavaliers this past season strung together winning streaks of 16, 15 and 12 games;

— Cleveland’s 34-7 home record ranked second only to Oklahoma City’s 35-6;

— The Cavaliers’ 9.5 scoring differential ranked second in the league;

— Cleveland drained 15.9 3-pointers per game, second in the NBA;

— The Cavaliers were the lone team with three All-Stars (Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley).

So, yes, the Heat aren’t in Chicago or Atlanta anymore.

But they also are in a better place than they were during most of the days that led to a 37-45 regular-season finish, now with victories in 10 of their past 14.

So, well, why not?

Related Articles

• Ira Winderman: Spoelstra stresses the gift of adversity for Heat playoff payoff
• ASK IRA: Did Heat victory in Atlanta put a whole new spin on the Jimmy Butler trade?
• Dave Hyde: Davion Mitchell took over the night in Atlanta and told the Heat story
• Winderman’s view: One with meaning for the Heat, stepping up when needed
• Heat play-in rollercoaster leaves them with 123-114 OT victory over Hawks and playoff berth

“You have to respect what Cleveland has done all year long,” Spoelstra said. “They’ve played probably the most consistent level, them and OKC, all season long. It’s not by accident: They’re well coached. They have great players. They have really good continuity. They play the right way.

“But you have big aspirations to compete for a title.”

Based on where they stand at the moment, basically that they’re still standing, Spoelstra’s players look at it as something other than a 27-win disparity in the standings.

“Obviously Cleveland has been No. 1 in the East all year,” center Bam Adebayo said. “They’ve been having a historical season. So for us, it’s understanding what’s at stake for them. For us, it’s figure out how to get one in Cleveland and worry about everything else later.”

On paper, it is the most lopsided of the eight series opening this weekend.

But on paper, the Heat hardly are a team supposed to even be here.

“The Cavs are obviously a unique team,” forward Haywood Highsmith said. “They’re the number-one team in the East for a reason. So we just got to lock into the game plan and the details, and go from there.

“I think this group, we fought to get into the playoffs and now that we’re here, we’re not just ready to go out soft or anything like that. We’re going to fight and figure out ways to make this series interesting and get it on our terms.”

The Heat went 1-2 against the Cavaliers during the regular season and nearly stole a game in Cleveland before a Duncan Robinson last-seconds 3-pointer was ruled to have come after he stepped out of bounds.

Tyler Herro led the Heat at 28 points per game in the season series, with Michell averaging 24 against the Heat.

This is the first playoff series between the teams in the Heat’s 37 seasons, with the Cavaliers having been the lone Eastern Conference team the Heat had yet to face in the postseason.

“It’s going to be a challenge for sure,” Herro said, “but we’re ready for the challenge.”

Worth noting

— With the Heat advancing, Heat president Pat Riley has made the playoffs 43 times in his 52-year career, including six as a player, 21 as a coach and 16 as an executive. …

— The Heat enter the playoffs with an all-time 163-132 (.553) postseason record, the third-highest winning percentage in NBA postseason history, behind only the Lakers (.595) and Celtics (.573). ..

— This sixth consecutive playoff appearance ties for the longest streak in team history. It marks the Heat’s 26th berth in their 37 seasons and 14th in 17 seasons under Spoelstra. The Heat have yet to miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons under Spoelstra, the longest such active streak in the NBA.

Heat vs. Cavaliers

(Best-of-seven)

Game 1: Sunday, Rocket Arena, 7 p.m. (TNT, FanDuel Sports Florida Sun)

Game 2: Wednesday, Rocket Arena, 7:30 p.m. (NBA TV, FanDuel Sports Florida Sun)

Game 3: April 26, Kaseya Center, 1 p.m. on (TNT, FanDuel Sports Florida Sun)

Game 4: April 28, Kaseya Center, Time TBA (TV TBA)

Game 5*: April 30, Rocket Arena, Time TBA (TV TBA)

Game 6*: May 2, Kaseya Center, Time TBA (TV TBA)

Game 7*: May 4, Rocket Arena, Time TBA (TV TBA)

(* — if necessary)

Ticket information

Individual game tickets for Round 1 home games for the 2025 White Hot Heat Playoffs at Kaseya Center are now on sale to the general public.

There is an eight-ticket limit per household per game. The team advised that individual game-ticket inventory is limited and expected to sell quickly. Purchases can be made online at HEAT.com and Ticketmaster.com.

Tickets can be purchased for home games 1, 2, and 3 of the first round. Fans who purchase tickets for any unplayed games will be automatically issued a refund by Ticketmaster, including fees (except UPS and retail pickup fees). If fans purchase tickets at a retail location, they can secure a refund by returning tickets for unplayed games at the same retail location where the tickets were originally purchased.

A man with a loaded gun stalks a student union building. In a flash, the peace of a university campus is shattered.

Students at Florida State University ran for their lives Thursday as a gunman opened fire, indiscriminately killing a 45-year-old father of two and a dining hall worker. The assailant wounded six others.

As another senseless shooting tragedy tore apart a close-knit campus, a wearily familiar cycle repeated itself: The campus was locked down, grief counselors arrived and classes and sporting events were cancelled. Frantic parents from faraway places helplessly worried if their kids were still alive.

A student mourns during a vigil on the Florida State campus at Langford Green, Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, April 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Then came the inevitable, irreconcilable pleas for fewer guns and, yes, for more guns.

Trump’s misguided ‘obligation’

President Donald Trump called the shooting “a shame” but said America does not need stricter gun laws and that he has “an obligation to protect the Second Amendment.”

What about the obligation to protect American lives?

For the thousandth time, we were reminded that we should not have to live like this.

Yet the violence never ends. Two more people are dead. Many lives are ruined. A great state university is traumatized by fear.

Within hours of the shooting, state Sen. Ileana Garcia of Miami was being vilified on social media because, two weeks earlier, she had voted against a bill to allow guns on college campuses. Garcia, a Republican, said she does not believe that more guns will make students safer.

X.comA part of Sen. Ileana Garcia’s X post, defending her vote against a “campus carry” gun bill. In the wrong hands

It is much too early to draw any definitive conclusions, but this case has the same haunting characteristic of so many others.

A deadly weapon got into the wrong hands, of an apparently unstable person with irrational impulses, resulting in devastating consequences.

A shooting at Florida State resonates especially strongly across South Florida. Year after year, FSU is a favored destination for thousands of graduating seniors from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

A student mourns during a vigil on the Florida State campus at Langford Green, Tallahassee, Fla., Friday, April 18, 2025, after a school shooting the day before. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Many of those currently enrolled were young teenagers when the massacre occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The monthly active shooter drills are a part of their life experiences.

“It’s something I lived … school shooting drills, constantly, every single month,” student Jayden D’Onofrio of Weston told CNN on Friday, as he helped friends escape campus for safer ground. “This is just another chapter of that.”

A troubled assailant

The accused assailant in the FSU shooting is a 20-year-old political science major who, many news accounts said, was in the middle of a traumatizing family custody struggle a decade ago.

To compound this horror, the gunman’s stepmother is a career sheriff’s deputy whose bosses called her “exeptional” and who has worked as a school resource officer to keep middle-school kids safe. Authorities say her former service revolver was the murder weapon.

Former classmates of accused killer Phoenix Ikner recalled his “concerning” past radical speech criticizing Rosa Parks, the Black Lives Matter movement and in support of Nazi symbols, CNN reported.

The FSU community is strong. Thousands of students and others gathered Friday on the campus green to grieve and to draw emotional strength from each other.

Florida State University students gather at Landis Green in Tallahassee, Florida on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 for a prayer service after an overnight shooting at the campus library. (Brendan Sonnone, Orlando Sentinel) ORG XMIT: ORL1411201131021058

Another familiar cycle emerged with makeshift memorials, prayer vigils and heartfelt expressions across social media.

The next FSU commencement ceremony is two weeks away. What should be a joyous experience is overshadowed by this terrifying tragedy.

“We mourn together. We lean on one another. And we remember who we are,” FSU President Richard McCullough wrote in an online posting. “We are Florida State. We are family. And we stand together.”

The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Opinion Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman, and Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant. To contact us, email at letters@sun-sentinel.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Matthew Tkachuk skated with the Florida Panthers in practice on Saturday, a sign that he may be ready to rejoin the lineup for Game 1 of the playoffs.

The Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup last season, open Round 1 at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Tkachuk has not played for Florida since Feb. 8, the team’s last game before the start of the 4 Nations Face-off event in which he participated for the U.S. He sustained a lower-body injury in the second game of that tournament, then tried to play in the final against Canada but didn’t take any shifts for the third period or overtime of that contest.

The Panthers placed Tkachuk on long-term injured reserve. He missed the team’s final 25 games of the regular season, yet still finished with 22 goals, 35 assists and 57 points — third-most on the team in all three categories. He was also second on the Panthers this season with 11 power-play goals.