[1] During the off-season, the Heat signed free agents, All-Star guard and three-point specialist Dan Majerle,[2][3][4][5] P.J.
[32] Tim Hardaway had a career season with the Heat, as he led the team with 20.3 points, 8.6 assists, 1.9 steals per game and 203 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while Alonzo Mourning averaged 19.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.
[33][34] In addition, second-year guard Voshon Lenard showed improvement becoming the team's starting shooting guard midway through the season, averaging 12.3 points per game, and finishing second on the team with 183 three-point field goals, as Majerle only played just 36 games due to a back injury.
[52][53][54][55] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they faced the New York Knicks, the previous team that Riley had served as head coach.
[64][65][66][67] In their first appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat lost in five games to the defending champion Chicago Bulls.
Roster Last transaction: March 25, 1997 In the first round of the playoffs, the Heat confronted their in-state rivals, the Orlando Magic.
[34] In the Eastern Conference finals, the Heat were defeated by the eventual NBA champion Chicago Bulls in five games.