In the Knicks’ first game since the All-Star break, New York lost 115-100 to the Heat on Friday night at MSG.
Prior to the game, coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed RJ Barrett and Nerlens Noel were available to play. Barrett rejoined the starting five alongside Evan Fournier, Mitchell Robinson, Alec Burks and Julius Randle.
With Kemba Walker shut down for the rest of the season, and Derrick Rose having a setback with his ankle, Burks will be asked to bear the brunt of the point guard role.
Here are the takeaways….
– Great defense and ball movement helped the Knicks get out to a 10-0 lead. The Heat wouldn’t get their first points until four minutes into the first quarter. Thibodeau elected to bring in Jericho Sims for Robinson instead of Noel. Immanuel Quickley was brought in for Burks.
Quentin Grimes came off the bench and on his first possession, banged knees with Miami’s PJ Tucker and was in clear pain. He was taken to the locker room and would not return. Thibs put out a very young unit of Barrett, Sims, Quickley, Obi Toppin and Cam Reddish during this stretch.
The Heat would go on some mini-runs to cut into the Knicks’ lead, but New York would end the first up 32-30. Miami shot 45 percent in that quarter while the Knicks shot 42 percent. Randle had six points in the first and got to the free-throw line four times, making all four. Barrett led the team with 13 points.
– Both teams started the second quarter with their second units. The Heat would go on a 7-3 run to take the lead for the first time at 39-38. Miami would extend their lead to 45-38 thanks to four Knicks turnovers. Thibodeau would send Randle and Barrett back into the game with seven minutes to go. Miles McBride came in with two minutes remaining.
It was a rough second quarter for the Knicks. New York shot just 37 percent to Miami’s 55 percent. The Heat took control of the game when the Knicks’ young players came in. However, despite the poor shooting, the Knicks ended the frame down 65-55. A lot of that was thanks to Barrett, who scored 30 points in the first half including 17 in the second quarter. He was the only Knick to score in double-digits in the first half.
– The Knicks began the third with their starting five and went on a 5-0 run. Both teams would trade buckets for a while, but the Knicks, led by Barrett, would cut the lead to three with five minutes to go, but whenever New York had a chance to cut the lead further, a turnover or poor defense would change the momentum.
The Knicks would cut the lead to two, but Barrett would get his fourth foul of the game with two minutes to go in the third. Randle, after being cold the entire quarter, scored five of his 11 points when Barrett sat to keep the score close. Turnovers or Knick fouls helped Miami to a 90-85 lead after three.
Barrett after three quarters already had a career-high 39 points. Both teams shot 50 percent, but Barrett really shined when the rest of the team was cold. Randle, to this point, shot just 2-14 but was regularly getting to the free throw line (7-8).
Quickley, Toppin, Reddish, Fournier and Sims started the fourth for the Knicks. The Heat would go out to an 12-5 run, thanks to four Knicks turnovers, to increase their lead to double digits. Barrett would score four-straight points to cut the lead to eight with three minutes remaining, but RJ picked up his fifth foul trying to guard Jimmy Butler, who hit a shot while fouled to put the Heat back up by 11. From there, shots stopped falling for the Knicks who wouldn’t score a point for the final three minutes as the Heat defeated New York, 115-100.
Barrett had a career-high 46 points on 13-22 shooting including 6-11 from three. His only blemish was his free-throw shooting (14-22). He also grabbed nine boards. Randle would score 11 points on just 2-15 from the field. Burks (12) and Fournier (13) were the only other Knicks who scored in double-digits. The Knicks bench scored just 18 points.
Highlights
What’s next
The Knicks stay at The Garden when they host James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday at 1 p.m.