For the first game of the series in front of their home crowd, the Miami Heat got the better of the New York Knicks (105-86) and went back ahead of the “Big Apple” franchise thanks to this second success.
The Heat did not miss the homecoming. After winning Game 1 and then losing Game 2 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Florida franchise players earned respect at the Kaseya Center. A Match 3 whose outcome was not in much doubt as the Heat dominated the debates. Never during the 48 minutes of this meeting, the Knicks could lead to the score. For his return to competition Jimmy Butler (28 points) did not miss the opportunity to open the scoring. If the gap remained below five points for the first four minutes, the Floridians quickly raised their voices to count up to thirteen lengths ahead before the end of the first quarter. In front of an Evan Fournier again confined to the bench, the Knicks tried to react, returning to eight points at the end of the first quarter. The second started with a blow to the head of the New York players, who conceded a 12-2 in less than three minutes.
Welcome to Miami. 🔥
2-1, good guys. pic.twitter.com/7VAWfHItdc
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) May 6, 2023
The Heat kept the pressure on
They then had difficulty getting up and keeping hope in a scenario that could turn in their favor. Jalen Brunson’s teammates (20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists) did everything they could to not be more than 20 points behind before the break but also failed to fully stem the bleeding. It is with a disbursement of 17 units that the Knicks have found their locker room. A 6-0 on the restart could have re-energized the Big Apple players, but the Heat responded with a 12-2 that set the record straight. No, the Heat weren’t ready to let go of this game. Until the start of the last twelve minutes, the gap between the two formations oscillated between 17 and 21 units. A last quarter which was a formality for the teammates of Bam Adebayo (17 points, 12 rebounds) who won in the end with a margin of 19 lengths (105-86). A second success in three games which gives them extra confidence before the fourth round, still on Florida soil.
