Adelaide have maintained their 100 per cent start to the Big Bash League season, defeating Brisbane by five wickets on Sunday.
The Strikers, set 153 for victory, made it four wins from four starts this summer in front of 26,975 fans at the Gabba.
Travis Head was the game breaker, scoring an unbeaten 57 off 40 balls as he shared an 87-run fifth wicket partnership with Alex Ross (36) to guide the Strikers to their target with seven balls to spare.
The defeat leaves the Heat's finals hopes hanging by a thread, with just one win from their four matches.
Head, who had earlier combined with Kieron Pollard in a thrilling piece of fielding during the Heat's innings, struck three fours and three sixes to score his first Twenty20 half-century.
The Strikers claimed the win without veteran duo Brad Hodge (arm) and Shaun Tait (hamstring tendonitis), though Tait is expected to return for Tuesday's visit by Perth to Adelaide Oval.
Earlier, opener Peter Forrest top-scored with 33 for the Heat, who rested star English import Andrew Flintoff.
Dangerman Chris Lynn (28 off 16) looked set for a special innings before West Indian Pollard pulled off a terrific effort in the field.
The big West Indian allrounder sprinted to catch a Lynn hit, taking two steps before he flicked the ball to Head before stepping over the boundary.
Nathan Reardon (31no) and Ben Cutting (21) provided some big blows, before Kane Richardson matched Pollard's effort with another brilliant catch on the boundary and the Heat's innings petered out.
Left-arm spinner Craig Simmons (2-26) and Ben Laughlin (2-31) led the way with the ball for the Strikers.
Man-of-the-match Head said the Strikers were trying their best to keep a lid on expectations after their fast start to the tournament.
"We're not going to talk finals just yet," Head said.
"We're sitting pretty but I know when we get to finals time it's completely different. There's no second chances or anything, you've got to be at your best the whole time."
Heat fast bowler Cameron Gannon said the home team had probably ended about 20 runs short with their total.
"Know we just have to look forward to Perth and do what we did in BBL 02 which was win a whole heap of games in a row," Gannon said.
"Hopefully we can sneak our way in."
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