The Miami Heat began Friday’s second half on a 19-0 run and led by 21–83-62–with 3:40 left in the third quarter after Jimmy Butler’s ridiculous 11-foot turnaround three-point play.
The Heat’s fourth-quarter collapse cropped up once again due to their snail pace and offensive stagnation. After entering up 16, the Heat scored just 11 points in the final 12 minutes and were outscored 29-11, as the Knicks survived a must-win In-Season Tournament contest inside Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks entered the evening 1-1 and would have been eliminated with a loss; the Heat, on the other hand, entered Friday 2-0 with the chance to remain the only undefeated squad heading into Tuesday’s group stage finale against Milwaukee, who’s also undefeated.
Miami’s 45.8 fourth-quarter offensive rating was its worst of any quarter this season–the second-worst being when it had a 57.7 offensive rating in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 12.
Friday night also marks its second 21-point lead blown in less than a week, blowing a 22-1 lead against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 18. The Heat shot a dismal 3-of-21 in the final frame, including 1-of-8 from beyond the arc; the Knicks, meanwhile, canned 11 of their 19 shot attempts in the final quarter and 4-of-9 from deep.
Miami shot 39.1 percent from the game and 10-of-37 (27.0 percent) from 3-point range. Jimmy Butler, who attempted the potential game-winning 3-pointer over R.J. Barrett as time expired, finished with a team-high 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 3-of-5 from distance.
Butler awkwardly landed on his right ankle midway through the second quarter, but remained in the game.
Bam Adebayo posted yet another 20-10 double-double, tallying 21 points and 12 rebounds on 8-of-16 shooting, in addition to two steals and two assists. Josh Richardson had 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while Jaime Jaquez also scored 15 points with five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting with three boards and three assists. Immanuel Quickley had 20 points–14 points in the second half–with four made 3-pointers.
Fortunately enough, the Heat have a quick opportunity to turn the script around with a second leg of a back-to-back Saturday evening against the Brooklyn Nets. The Heat are 1-1 against the Nets this season.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
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It seems that the Heat were looking ahead of today after the 21 points while the Knicks counter strategized. Knicks counter strategy was simple and it worked. On defense, they dared the Heat to shoot from the distance by plugging up the lane and double teaming on Bam. The Heat not being a consistent good shooting team could not hit open shots. The Knicks by plugging up the lane also outmanned the Heat on the boards. In offense, they dropped Randle and their interior offense and settled for outside shots, while the Heat’s perimeter defense slacked. It was a game of 1 quarter strategic adjustment that gave the Knicks the win. Hopefully, it is a lesson learnt for the Heat. Duncan’s 3s , cutting and slicing antics were surely missed.
I Hate losing to the bleepin Knicks! That is all.
Let’s Go Heat!
I don’t think losing leads like this shows anything more than the offense is a work in progress.
The freedom in sets that led to the lead was awesome. Can we sustain that decisiveness?
The entire 2023 playoffs (except the finals) was about which team could hang a run and then hang onto the lead. I think we’re a little bit better than last year.
I was convinced, that this one was in the pocket. Dunc or Herro would bring this one home.
Swider is not ready for such level because of his defence.
It happens.
Tomorrow is another game.
It happens. Just sucks when its ur team on the losing end after being ahead big. Ok Knicks this rnd goes to you and no excuses from Heat side. We’ll get you next time. If Heat fans are pissed, how much more the players themselves. Bam, Butler, Spo…you’ve got to do better next time. This will leave a bad taste for a few days.
We are fine if you are satisfied with just being a little better than ok. If you are ok with a team which no lead is big enough to protect, then this team is all you can ask for. This argument we have between those saying everything will work out and those who see how hard it is to win in the nba and how talented the good teams are, will continue. And It will be answered by playing the leagues best, not the bottom feeders.
1 out of 82.a game in november,u do remember who was in nba finals last year.30 were ok 2 top 20 shooters didnt play.u think jim does this sht in playoffs.
I like the new you but it’s going to be lonelier for me being one of the critical ones. You always stood up to it well.
I do agree that this was a game that Duncan, yes Duncan, might have been the difference between winning and losing if he played.
Still, I stand by my thoughts that this is a 45 win, best scenario second round of the playoffs exiting team, in Jimmy’s last really highly effective year, without
acquiring a little more. Maybe we can wait till the trade deadline though (maybe not since the Smith injury), when there are more teams playing out the string and more players to choose from.
30 i always agree with your posts your a realist but im gonna put some positive manila spins on it.manila spin #1 jimmy doesnt give a f about reg season diff player in playoffs.manila spin #2 fellow philipino is tinkering with lineups and injuries.manila spin #3 track record of this squad plus jjj and jrich should be better than last years finals team.pre thanksgiving hfl spins jimmys a year older.lowry is still a turtle.bams an all star for 3 qtrs.