For the 4th time of the season, the Knicks win after a 20-point lead. This time it’s on the floor of the Heat, the leader of the Eastern Conference, and the New Yorkers win 111-103 after winning the last quarter 38-15!
While Markieff Morris had just given the Heat a 17-point lead (90-73), one player will completely change the game, and that’s Immanuel Quickley. The Knicks joker will suddenly catch fire, planting eight points in less than a minute. His energy is infectious and like magic we find last year’s defense of the Knicks. Faced with a Taj Gibson from the big nights, the Heat eat stop on stop, to the point where it misses 11 out of 12 shots!
On the other side, Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes are let loose and in five minutes the Knicks equalized (92-92). Tom Thibodeau’s men have just signed a 19-2 and they won’t stop there. It was Quickley who resumed his festival, and the efforts of the Adebayo-Butler tandem were in vain, giving the back of the Knicks an eight point lead with 90 seconds left (103-95). Max Strus and Butler believe in unlikely turnaround, but Quickley again fails to tremble on free throws to validate win (111-103)
WHAT TO REMEMBER
No gift for Lowry† For the 6th time in his basketball career, Kyle Lowry played on his birthday and for the 6th time he lost. The first time was in full March Madness with Villanova having a small run against North Carolina.
Miami burst† Third loss in a row for the Heat, defeated first by the B-team of the Sixers, then by the “Baby Warriors”, and tonight by the Knicks robbed of Julius Randle.
Offensive Rebounds† Like Mitchell Robinson, who only takes offensive rebounds tonight, the Knicks have dominated in the Heat’s paint. New York takes 18 offensive rebounds, converted into 28 points on repechage shots.
TOPS/FLOPS
Immanuel Quickley† The perfect pinch. His aggressiveness and risk taking changed the game at the start of the fourth quarter. His composure at the end of the match was also invaluable. He scored 20 of his 23 points in the 4th quarter.
The Knicks couch† Congratulations to all substitutes, especially for their defense in the 4th quarter. Around Grandpa Gibson they were energetic, ready to jump forward to try this comeback. Too bad the Knicks discover a bank when their season is almost over.
Jimmy Butler† He had things to forgive after the collision with Udonis Haslem and Erik Spoelstra. He was a leader from start to finish, but lacked support when the team lost balance.
Duncan Robinson† Tyler Herro absent, we expected a lot from Robinson, and he disappointed again…
THE FOLLOWING
Miami (47-27) : back to back against the Nets. At stake, 1st place in the Eastern Conference.
New York (32-42) : fairly quiet trip to Detroit on Sunday.
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