What Happened in Game 2?
Jalen Brunson performed better in Game 2 after struggling in the Knicks' Game 1 loss. Despite this, he fought through and delivered 30 points to lead the Knicks to a 111-105 victory over the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler.
Julius Randle returned to the Knicks' lineup after missing Game 1 due to a sprained left ankle, finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. RJ Barrett also contributed 24 points, with 16 coming in the first quarter, while Josh Hart had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
Despite Caleb Martin's 22-point performance for the Heat in place of Butler, it wasn't enough to secure the victory. The game was close throughout, with the Heat leading by six points midway through the fourth quarter. However, Brunson made crucial plays down the stretch, hitting 3-pointers and scoring to tie the game at 93 before making another 3-pointer to give the Knicks the lead, which they held until the end.
Key Stats from Game 2
The Miami Heat and New York Knicks put on an incredibly competitive game for the second straight game. The shooting from both teams was much-improved over Game 1, as both sides combined to shoot 33 of 89 from deep on the night. The Knicks were more efficient, though, hitting 40.0% of their three-point attempts.
New York dominated the glass in Game 2 against Miami, winning the rebounding battle 50 to 34. The Knicks were also more impactful on the offensive glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to Heat's 8.
Both teams were responsible with the ball in Game 2, committing just 18 turnovers combined.
Knicks vs Heat Game Preview
The New York Knicks and the Miami Heat continue their hard-fought series when they face off for Game 3 on Saturday night. With the series tied at 1-1, the Miami Heat hope to have the advantage as the next two games will be on their home court. Injuries have defined both teams' success through the first two games so that availability will be crucial in this tightly contested matchup.
The Knicks enter this game as one of the league's best road teams, posting a 28-15-1 ATS Record away from home, covering the spread 65.1% of the time. New York went 24-17 on the road through the regular season, with a margin of victory of 1.4 and an ATS +/- of +3.5.
The Miami Heat were more capable at home than on the road, but they still posted a home ATS Record of 17-26-2 while covering the spread just 39.5% of the time. The Heat were 27-14 on their home court this season, with a 1.7-point margin of victory but a -2.3 ATS +/-.
New York Knicks Team Preview
New York Knicks ATS Record: 48-37-4
The New York Knicks enter this game with their eyes on taking control of the series. Their offense is more potent with Julius Randle in the lineup, which showed in Game 2 of the series. The Knicks must maintain their two-way quality with the series shifting to Miami.
The Knicks scored 111 points in their Game 2 win over the Heat, shooting 45.1% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range. Representative of their inside-out game, New York collected 50 rebounds, beating the Heat's rebounding numbers by 16 while also hitting 16 threes on the night.
Expect the Knicks to do more of the same when they face the Miami Heat in Game 3. Their dominance in the paint defined the game, and the Miami Heat must show the strength to oppose them at the rim. If they remain consistent from three, the Heat will be stretched too thin to defeat them.
Miami Heat Team Preview
Miami Heat ATS Record: 37-51-3
The Miami Heat will be relieved to be on their homecourt for two consecutive games, especially given the potential of Jimmy Butler returning to the lineup on Saturday. After dropping Game 2 to the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat must regroup and sort out their issues on both ends of the court to regain control of the series.
In their Game 2 loss, the Heat scored 105 points on 44.7% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range. They beat the New York Knicks from three-point range, hitting 17 on the evening, but their inability to find extra opportunities and get to the free-throw line hurt their chances.
Look for the Miami Heat to control the pace of play and limit the New York Knicks from three-point range. The Miami Heat can't afford to get into a scoring battle with their limited scoring options. The odds are in Miami's favor if they can force turnovers and play efficiently.
New York Knicks vs Miami Heat Game Pick
- Spread: Miami Heat -3.5 (-112)
- Total: Over 208.5 (-110)
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