MIAMI — Jimmy Butler returned and strengthened his greatness. The Knicks and Julius Randle? They simply folded.
Saving a horrible time to provide one among its extra anemic offensive performances, New York was crushed by the Heat, 105-86, leaving Saturday with a 2-1 collection deficit.
Butler was a distinction maker with a game-high 28 factors and a jolt of depth after he sat Game 2. But he wasn’t the Knicks’ greatest downside Saturday.
They largely have themselves in charge for the stomach flop in Biscayne Bay.
“We paid the price,” coach Tom Thibodeau stated.
The Knicks, trailing wire-to-wire, shot simply 34 p.c total whereas lacking (protect your eyes, youngsters) 32 of their 40 3-point makes an attempt. The misfiring was widespread.
Julius Randle, transferring at ¾ pace by means of his abysmal 38 minutes, scored simply 10 factors on 4 of 15 capturing. His recreation ended with a lollygag again on protection with a couple of minute remaining, permitting Cody Zeller an open dunk in transition.
“I’ve got to find a way to play better,” he stated.
Jalen Brunson, clearly laboring with accidents to each toes, missed all 5 of his 3-pointers. The Knicks bench, a problem for the reason that begin of the collection, was once more ineffective, with Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Quentin Grimes combining to overlook 12 of their 16 3-pointers. Quickley additionally sprained his ankle within the fourth quarter when Bam Adebayo dove into the guard’s leg.
So there have been no positives for the Knicks on Saturday. It was a wipeout from the paint to the perimeter.
Butler’s impression, in the meantime, was fast. He scored on Miami’s first possession, promoting a pump pretend earlier than changing a floater. He stacked the field rating within the first quarter – 10 factors, two blocks, two rebounds, one help, 5-for-9 capturing.
“They came in tough, they started out physical,” stated RJ Barrett, who missed 11 of his 16 shot because the Knicks have been outscored by 32 factors in his 25 minutes. “Jimmy had like eight points in the first two minutes or something. They just came out strong. They threw a punch and we battled throughout the game, but they started out great and they had a good game.”
Somehow the Knicks by no means recovered from Butler’s preliminary onslaught. They trailed by double digits for the ultimate 35 ½ minutes.
“[Butler’s] been the best player in the world lately, so can’t be mad at having him on the floor,” stated Heat guard Max Strus, who completed with 19 factors. “Having him always helps. We just try feed off of everything he gives us. And everyone’s just trying to help him. He’s been so great. We just want to do our job and be great for him.”
Butler additionally turned his proper ankle — the identical one which saved him out of Game 2 — whereas falling to the court docket on a drive within the third quarter. He continued to play and moved nicely within the fourth quarter, serving to seal the blowout.
“I’m comfortable,” Butler stated, “and confident.”
Butler had six days to heal the unique damage by skipping Game 2, and Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was nicely conscious of the problem. Butler confirmed up and ignited the Miami crowd, which is famously fickle and arrived fashionably late Saturday.
The Knicks had no response.
“We got it down to 10 a couple times, but then we never could get that next one,” Thibodeau stated. “That’s the tough thing. And they played from a lead the whole game. You give a team a cushion, it’s hard. Every time we seem to have a crack at getting back into it, we didn’t make the next one.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com