A streak of losses that ends (at 6, that of Miami), one of victories that goes up in smoke (to 3, that of New York): Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo – 27 points the first, 20 with 17 rebounds the second – make the reigning Eastern Conference champions re-experience the taste of success, who also have 18 points from Tyler Herro and 14 from Duncan Robinson, both with 4/9 three points. A third quarter from 39-21 was decisive for the Heat, who had closed the first half down by 7.
Julius Randle is the best of his team with 22 points, but the rest of the Knicks starting lineup only collects 24 points. More positive notes come from the bench, where both Derrick Rose (16 points in 26 minutes with 3/5 from the arc) and Immanuel Quickley (12 in 17 minutes) go in double figures. The Knicks have only 15 team assists and pay bad percentages not only from the field but also to free throws (12/20, only 60%).