They were very irregular and unconvincing throughout the night
With 30 points, the baso led the comeback of the Knicks
Jalen Brunson, with 30 points (10 of them in a great last quarter), This Tuesday was the burning nail that the New York Knicks grabbed to match their East semifinal (1-1) with a 111-105 win over the Miami Heat who put them on the ropes despite not having the injured Jimmy Butler.
After losing the court factor on Saturday, the Knicks could not afford a new setback at Madison Square Gardenespecially with Butler absent with a sprained right ankle.
However, New Yorkers had to suffer a lot to add their first victory in this series, so much so that at times it seemed that they were going to travel to Miami with two defeats in their suitcase.
Brunson, who also grabbed 5 rebounds, was instrumental in avoiding that disaster and was accompanied by a Julius Randle who returned after not having played the first duel due to injury (25 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists), RJ Barrett (24 points) and Josh Hart (14 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists).
Very irregular and unconvincing throughout the nightthe Knicks were trailing by 6 points in the fourth quarter but turned the game around with a great 24-12 to close the game.
Caleb Martin (22 points and 8 rebounds), Gabe Vincent (21 points) and Max Strus (17 points) They were the top scorers for a very dignified Heat, with a lot of personality and who were about to make a splash despite their resounding inferiority in rebounding (43 compared to 63 for the Knicks).
Brunson to the rescue
Randle started with a good feeling, both scoring and dealing, but his 10 points in the opening quarter were eclipsed byr a Barrett who set the pace for the locals with 16 goals in the first 12 minutes.
With Martin out instead of Butler, the Heat started the game with their heads held highthings very clear and full confidence in the collective performance of his block
After a minimal New York advantage in the first quarter (31-29), the Knicks got stuck with a totally broken offense who went more than three minutes without scoring at the beginning of the second period.
In addition, their inside game began to be loaded with fouls and both Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein entered the break with three fouls each.
Facing the doubts of the Knicks, the Heat kept hitting without haste but without pausethey stood out in defense (only 20 points from their rivals in the second period) and went to the locker room ahead (51-54) with Martin as the benchmark in attack with 12 points.
The Knicks closed the first half very uncomfortable and so they continued in the resumption.
With difficulty to pick up rhythm and to match the concentration of some Heat very involved in the game, Tom Thibodeau’s men found gold in the third quarter in a Brunson who woke up with 13 points and three triples.
However, Strus responded wonderfully in the visitors with 11 goals in the penultimate period and the game faced its last twelve minutes as a very sharp duel and with everything to be decided (76-77).
Miami continued to add names to its group character display and in the denouement it was the turn of Vincent, explosive with 8 points in a seen and not seen to open a small gap (87-93 with 7.03 to go).
Then came Brunson’s hero moment.
With a fantastic display of offensive resources, the base led the comeback of some Knicks sorely in need of someone to step up.
Hartenstein also signed up for the epic by becoming enormous in the offensive rebound.
Against some Heat who faltered for the first time in the entire evening, Hart tripled a +4 with just 1.38 left and, despite having to sweat until the end with the free throws, the Knicks sealed the victory.