Wild Win
The Knicks get an All-Star (and give their fans a heart attack) but come away with a shorthanded victory.
Good morning. I swear this organization is in bed with a defibrillator manufacturer. That’s the only explanation I’ve got.
Let’s do it.
Game Recap: Knicks 106, Miami 104
⌚️60 Seconds or Less: It was another game between these long time rivals that came down to the wire. How they got there was unlike almost anything else we’ve seen.
Behind their newly minted two-time All-Star Julius Randle but without their starting point guard, the Knicks shot out to an early 13-point lead. A dry spell from the bench produced just seven points in an eight-minute stretch, but the starters righted the ship and engineered a 17-point turnaround from the mid-second to the mid-third quarters. Up 14, the home team was humming, but three straight Tyler Herro threes started a 19-2 Miami push that had the Knicks on the brink.
That’s when the bench pulled a 180, regaining and eventually extending the lead to 11 early in the fourth. From there, it was about hanging on for dear life. They did, thanks to a big stretch run from RJ Barrett, but it wasn’t without several palpitation-inducing moments. Ultimately, Herro had a shot to win it at the buzzer, but it hit iron. New York escapes with another one.
💣 Ticking Time Bomb: It’s not a matter of if, but when.
By this point, we all know that there is no such thing as an uneventful game for this squad. Not one featuring the team with “NEW YORK” across its chest. Nah ah. If things are remotely close, there will be a moment (and likely several moments) that make you question your life choices, win or lose. This game was no exception.
With Jalen Brunson sitting out with a non-Covid illness and with Julius Randle in a celebratory mood, having defied the odds for a second time with an All-Star selection that no one saw coming six months ago, this already figured to be an interesting night. The Heat have struggled on offense all year, so you figured they wouldn’t run away with things, but with Jimmy Butler in the building, nothing would be over until the clock read all zeroes.
Winning easy? What would be the fun in that?
We pick it up with just under a minute to go. Shortly after a Tyler Herro long two brought the Heat to within three following a Bam Adebayo goaltending violation on an RJ Barrett layup, New York called timeout to get their offense set. The result was less than ideal:
The play call here didn’t seem to be the issue. The second the ref hands the ball to RJ, Quentin Grimes initiates the action by cutting hard around Quickley. At that moment, Bam digs in because Herro had been dislodged, which is when Julius springs forward towards the inbounder. The kicker is that Quickley sets a nice back screen on Bam, which slows his pursuit just enough for RJ to have a clean pass to Julius.
Except Barrett hesitates. By that point, Grimes has fully curled around to the near corner, but RJ never looks his way. Instead, he tries to lob it over one of the best defenders in the NBA who now has great position on Randle.
He chose…poorly.
This is where its important to add that Jalen Brunson would normally be inbounding in this situation. RJ had a great offensive game, and this one play shouldn’t ruin that. And to his credit, after Bam hit the free throws, Barrett again ended up with the ball in his hands and the need for a well-timed and properly placed pass against tough coverage. This time, he made it, followed by as pretty a drive and dish as you’ll ever see courtesy of Quentin Grimes:
The Knicks were back up three.
After Herro missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it, Julius Randle grabbed the rebound and passed to Barrett. RJ again had the ball in his hands needing to make the heady play, but it was Mr. Hyde’s turn to take the wheel. What followed was one of the wackier 20 seconds you’ll ever see on a basketball court - too much to fit into a GIF, in fact, but it’s worth you’re time to click and watch (unless you’re pregnant, have a heart condition, are operating heavy machinery, or want to avoid therapy):
After the Randle dunk, New York was up five with five seconds left. Game over, right?
HA!
On the ensuing Miami inbounds, Julius got caught on a Butler screen and Isaiah Hartenstein completely failed to react to Max Strus curling around for a wide-open three that went in, because of course it did. Knicks up two, 2.2 seconds to go.
No worries. A simple inbounds would go a long way to ending this game. What bad thing could possibly happen?
WHAT BAD THING, I ASK YOU.
Find me another player who, on the day he gets awarded one of the sport’s highest honors in one of the most talent-rich, competitive conferences in recent memory, falls on his bum without being touched. I dare you.
That’s what the replay confirmed - that Randle fell down on his own accord, and not due to a foul by Bam, as was originally called. To his credit, Julius owned up to it after the game, saying he was trying to run away and “just busted my ass.” Hey, it happens.
But that meant the Heat had one final chance, down two with a chance to tie or win. Herro curled around a Bam screen and got good separation from RJ, who was covering his draft classmate because Quentin Grimes was on Jimmy Butler. Julius Randle was the closest help defender and got a hand up for a decent contest. Maybe it made a difference, maybe it didn’t. Either way, in a season that has already been far too cruel to Knicks fans, this one ended up going their way.
🌅 But the Vibes…THE VIBES! Just like these end of game sh!tshows are becoming routine, to New York’s credit, so has coming up huge in the biggest of spots.
Whether it was wins in Utah and Denver after a 3-6 stretch that seemed to end their season before it really began, or the win versus Cleveland after being thrashed by the Mavs, or the second Cavs win to end a four-game skid, or now tonight while missing their leader, these Knicks may get down, but they are never out.
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