The New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat 101-92. The Knicks won without Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson resting in the fourth quarter.
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The New York Knicks avenged last week’s loss to the Miami Heat, winning 101 to 92. The big news is that New York handled business despite their best players struggling or getting hurt. The Knicks’ big three scored just 27 points, and Julius Randle left the game after fifteen minutes with a sprained ankle.
The struggles left room for Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley to step up with help from the second unit. So the Knicks’ young prospects fought back whenever Miami took momentum, creating a back-and-forth affair with 24 lead changes. A lineup of Quickley, Grimes, RJ Barrett, Josh Hart, and Isaiah Hartenstein played the entire fourth quarter and secured a lead for the final 7 minutes of action.
New York is in the driver’s seat to take the fifth seed, but they may have lost Julius Randle. Let’s see how New York took down the Heat.
The sophomore takes over to lead New York’s starting lineup
Jalen Brunson: 12 PTS (5/11 FG, 1/3 3PT, 1/1 FT), 3 AST, 2 REB, 3 TO in 30 mins
Jalen Brunson looked out of sorts in his return from a sprained hand. There were moments of typical Brunson, with his speed changes and pivots creating space to get floaters off for points. But he also hesitated at times, changing his mind and jumping into passes that became turnovers.
I’m not concerned about Brunson’s offense. He flashed his leadership and clutch ability with 5 points to end the first half. The bigger issue has been his defense. The undersized guard hasn’t been effective on defense since his ankle injury was reported, and the team defense showed marked improvement when he sat.
New York’s leader is banged up. He entered the game with his hand wrapped up, and his defense hasn’t looked good in weeks. On the bright side, we know he’s better than this. He’ll get a 1.5 out of 5 for the lackluster performance, but there’s time to heal and improve.
Quentin Grimes: 23 PTS (8/14 FG, 5/10 3PT, 2/3 FT), 4 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 36 mins
Quentin Grimes sparked New York with an assist and two 3-point makes before Miami could score a point. His outburst helped the Knicks navigate a slow start, and he took that momentum into the rest of the action. The Heat like to swarm ball handlers which meant open looks for New York’s sharpshooter, who canned 5 threes on the night. When Miami’s defenders rushed to the perimeter, Grimes stepped past them for finishes at the rim and assists.
The sophomore led the charge on defense just as much as on offense. He got up for some defensive boards and quickly turned up the court to spark transitions. And don’t be fooled because his work on ball handlers created more turnovers than his 1 steal suggests. He forced players to make difficult passes or force terrible shots late in the clock.
Grimes carried the starting lineup, with help from Brunson in the second quarter and RJ in the third. He was the constant that applied pressure on the Heat and kept things competitive until the bench entered. His production was great, and his impact goes beyond that production. He gets a 4.5 out of 5 for leading the way.
RJ Barrett: 12 PTS (4/13 FG, 2/6 3PT, 2/4 FT), 5 REB, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 33 mins
RJ Barrett played a nightmare first half. First, he tried to post up Gabe Vincent, only to turn the ball over. Then he missed bunnies at the rim and open looks from three. But Barrett didn’t take many bad shots and found enough rhythm to produce 5 points in each quarter of the second half.
Barrett showed poise in crucial situations. He made a big three-pointer late in the third, hit a go-ahead midrange shot in the fourth, then closed the game with the last Knicks’ field goal in the fourth quarter (another three). That’s gutsy after his brutal start to the game.
While the young prospect’s numbers are unimpressive, his ability to bounce back from adversity is excellent. He came through when his team needed him. I’ll also shout out RJ’s defense which has shown marked improvement in the second half of this season. Barrett gets a 2.5 out of 5, salvaging an otherwise rough performance.
Julius Randle: 3 PTS (1/5 FG, 0/2 3PT, 1/2 FT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 2 TO in 15 mins
The Heat wouldn’t give Julius Randle an inch. He started the game double-teamed and didn’t make anything until he finally saw single coverage in the second quarter. But, to his credit, Randle never forced the issue, consistently kicking out to shooters like Grimes.
Randle left the game after an awkward crash with Bam Adebayo. He sprained his ankle, but the severity hasn’t been announced. He exited as he was beginning to kick into gear, unfortunately.
Mitchell Robinson: 2 PTS (1/3 FG), 1 AST, 6 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 19 mins
Mitchell Robinson always seems to have trouble with Bam Adebayo. Bam pulls Mitch far enough away from the basket to limit the shot-blocker’s ability to deter slashers. That’s not to say Robinson was horrible, though; he was quiet compared to normal but solid nonetheless.
Robinson hasn’t moved quite like we’re used to lately. I don’t know if he has nagging lower body issues or mounting fatigue. But Isaiah Hartenstein outplayed him, which cut Mitchell’s night short. That said, I don’t doubt our starting center could have handled more minutes. In the end, he earned a 2 out of 5 for limited time and impact.
Quickley stays hot with the Knicks’ second unit
Immanuel Quickley: 24 PTS (8/14 FG, 2/5 3PT, 6/11 FT), 4 AST, 1 REB, 3 STL, 1 TO in 32 mins
HIMmanuel Quickley continued to step up while the usual leaders struggled with fatigue and injury by generating a spark every time he entered the game. The Knicks’ offense struggled in the first quarter, but then Quickley came on and scored almost immediately. He did the same in the third quarter, producing 7 points in the last minute of action, and that scoring output also continued through the entire fourth.
Quickley’s incredible scoring is only part of the story. His playmaking included beautiful passes, like a jump pass from the corner to a wide-open Hartenstein under the rim.
Then there was his defense. I’ve gushed about IQ’s defense so much that I said I’d stop repeating myself. But he was a menace in this game, picking off passes for fastbreak scores. The team’s defense leaped whenever Quick was on the floor.
It all congeals to form an all-around performance that warrants 5 out of 5. The Knicks needed someone to step up, and IQ answered the bell.
Josh Hart: 13 PTS (6/7 FG, 1/1 3PT), 3 AST, 8 REB, 2 STL, 3 TO in 28 mins
Death, taxes, and Josh Hart making plays…the only things you can count on in life. Josh Hart manages to make the play that the Knicks need at the exact moment when they need it. The offense was sputtering early, so Hart entered and hit a three. The Heat started making a final push in the fourth, so Hart added 8 points in that quarter alone.
But scoring is never the highlight of a Josh Hart performance. Those are reserved for the rebounds he chases down, the clever pockets he creates assists out of, and the pressure he applies on defense. You’ll rarely see Jimmy Butler as frustrated as he looked against Josh Hart…Butler even ignored Hart’s attempt at a handshake after the game (random aside: apparently, people leaving Josh Hart hanging is a meme – https://youtu.be/xSFERudIy54)
Hart didn’t play the perfect game. He turned the ball over three times, and you’ll catch him running into screens instead of around them periodically. But even his mistakes come with a physicality that makes them easy to forgive. Hart’s fantastic play earns a 3.5 out of 5, and for what it’s worth, I’d dap him up no matter who leaves him hanging.
Obi Toppin: 6 PTS (2/4 FG, 2/4 3PT), 4 AST, 3 REB in 17 mins
Obi Toppin put together a nice game that included more activity than usual. He reserved his scoring for three-point attempts, knocking down half of his 4 attempts. But don’t be fooled by the shot attempts; Toppin was active on the ball. He handled the rock into space, creating for others when the swarming Heat defense approached. His 4 assists were well-earned and included an alley-oop to Isaiah Hartenstein.
With Julius Randle’s injury, you’d expect an ample opportunity for Obi Toppin. But Toppin missed a few rotations that stood out, and the Heat used a fairly small lineup. That meant that t Obi started the third but never returned after coming off the floor. He still grabs a 2.5 out of 5 in his 17 minutes, but this is another case: “I wonder how he would have performed with more time.”
Isaiah Hartenstein: 6 PTS (3/5 FG, 0/2 FT), 2 AST, 9 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 28 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein could start at center for some teams. I can’t think of a better backup center in the league since the All-Star Break. Hartenstein’s defensive presence looked incredible as he shut down bigs in the middle and perimeter players on switches. The big man’s Achilles issue is behind him because he kept up with Bam Adebayo well and never looked overwhelmed.
Big Hart’s scoring is a source of frustration for me. He scored efficiently enough but left some points by missing a bunny at the rim, a wide-open floater, and both his free throws. That’s insufficient to offset his dunks, passing, and work on the boards, but I get Nerlens Noel flashbacks once a night as Hartenstein rocks.
I’m exaggerating about the misses. Hartenstein played great basketball, and his numbers across the stat line show it. He anchored the defense and gave the offense a different dimension from Mitchell Robinson’s rim running. This is who we expected when he signed, and everyone called him a steal. Big Hart gets a 3.5 out of 5 for his contributions.
Tom Thibodeau goes small without Randle and gets results
The Knicks finally showed off an effective small-ball lineup, and I can’t fully enjoy it. The reason is that it took Julius Randle getting hurt to try this. But I don’t want to come across as negative after Tom Thibodeau won despite Brunson and Randle being hurt and RJ Barrett starting woefully slow.
Thibodeau continues to get results regardless of who’s healthy or the opponent. The proof is in the pudding, and there’s a method to his chaos. He went small in the nick of time, and I hope the results will inspire him to try this approach more often in the season’s final two weeks. Nevertheless, Thibodeau gets a 4.5 out of 5 for navigating a tricky situation for a vital win.
Closing Thoughts
Happy Birthday Walt Clyde Frazier! You’d be hard-pressed to find a more beloved figure in Knicks’ history, and that’s for a good reason. Clyde helped bring New York two championships; he’s been a voice of the Knicks for as long as I’ve been watching games, and he’s been a humble, down-to-Earth person every time I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him. Much love to the most stylish announcer in sports broadcasting and the Hall of Fame legend on the court and in the booth.
The Knicks blessed Clyde’s birthday with a win over a longtime rival. Their magic number to clinch a playoff berth is two, and the fifth seed is a matter of keeping up their level of play for five more games. The team looks banged up, which has allowed role players to step up and fill the stars’ shoes. We’ve seen a leap from IQ, and Grimes and Hartenstein have come into their own throughout this year.
I wonder what upside this team-driven approach creates. When Brunson and Randle are healthy, they’ll have teammates with built-up confidence. I can’t wait to see how this group approaches playoff basketball, though they did show signs of nerves in last night’s playoff environment.
Cleveland’s next for a potential playoff preview. I could see New York resting some key players and focusing on the weaker opponents that close out the schedule. But we’ll react to the Knicks’ approach when we see it, and I’m looking forward to the action regardless. I’ll see you next time, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out CP and Alex to discuss Immanuel Quickley’s Sixth Man of the Year candidacy!
