During the Saturday night NBA playoff slate, the Miami Heat took a 2-1 series lead over the New York Knicks in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series using a 105-86 victory. Jimmy Butler set the tone in his injury return with 28 points, while Max Strus added 19.
Despite playing through an ankle injury, Butler scored 10 points in the opening quarter as the Heat made 10 of their first 15 shots. It was a strong start for Miami as the team sought to control the momentum in front of the home crowd.
“We always said we can win games when we defend and not make shots,” Butler said. “And this is one of those games.”
Meanwhile, the Knicks missed 13 of their first 17 shots, and they were limited to scoring in the paint for much of the first half. New York didn’t even hit the 40-point threshold until a Jalen Brunson made finish with 36.2 seconds left in the half.
“It’s about figuring out how to compete at a really high level,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “What’s necessary for that game to be able to win.”
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The Heat used a focused defensive effort and free throw shooting to overcome one of their worst shooting displays of the season. Miami shot just 38.9 percent from the floor and 21.9 percent from 3-point range, but they contained the Knicks to a poor 34.1 percent from the floor and 20.0 percent from deep. Going 28-31 (90.3 percent) on free throws proved to be a difference-maker.
“You’ve got to win games different ways,” Heat guard Kyle Lowry said. “In the playoffs, like I’ve said many a time and for many years now, every game is seriously different. And this is one of those games where we held them down. … To win by half a point, one point, two points, 20 points, it’s about winning the game however it happens.”
The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson’s 20 points, with Josh Hart scoring 15, RJ Barrett scoring 14 and Immanuel Quickley scoring 12. It was another struggling performance from Julius Randle, who was limited to 10 points but pulled in 14 rebounds.
“We couldn’t get stops early so we couldn’t get any easy buckets,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So, we paid the price.”
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With a balanced effort, the Heat never trailed in the game. Bam Adebayo contributed 17 points and 12 rebounds while being more imposing on both ends. Lowry scored 14 points, too. The Heat even took an 11-point lead in the second quarter thanks to a Duncan Robinson 3-pointer and led by double-figures for the rest of the game.
“Hopefully we can get back on the right track and find a way to make some shots next game and come out with a win,” Randle said.
The Heat led by as many as 22 points at one point, with the Knicks failing to make a meaningful dent in the deficit. In order to avoid falling down 3-1 in the series, New York will need a much greater effort in Game 4 on Monday.
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