New York Knicks' RJ Barrett (9) drives past Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo as Jimmy Butler (22) watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in New York. The Knicks won 106-104. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) (Frank Franklin II, AP)
Not even facial recognition could see that coming.
Without an ill and inactive Jalen Brunson, the Knicks held off the surging Miami Heat despite bumbling and stumbling through the final minute of a 106-104 victory at MSG.
It ended with a potential game-winner from Miami’s Tyler Herro bouncing off the rim, allowing Julius Randle to breathe easy after his turnover nearly squandered the game.
The final moments were absolutely wild. It included two awful passes and turnovers from RJ Barrett — who was otherwise brilliant Thursday — and a stumble from Randle with 2.1 seconds that was reviewed by the officials as a travel.
But the Knicks (28-25) prevailed, moving a game within the Heat (29-24) for sixth in the Eastern Conference. They got a clutch steal and dunk from Isaiah Hartenstein, who has played better in the last two games with Mitchell Robinson still out with a broken thumb.
“We needed that,” Randle said. “Especially at home. We haven’t played as well as we wanted to here.”
Barrett finished with 30 points in 41 minutes, playing down the stretch this time after being benched in the important moments of Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers. It was something of a redemption moment for the 22-year-old, who essentially served as the ball handler without Brunson.
“I’m talking to you guys today,” Barrett joked after he declined to talk to the media following Tuesday’s benching. “I’m human I get frustrated sometimes. My mother told me if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
There were plenty of nice things to say about Barrett against the Heat, the two late turnovers notwithstanding.
“Just shows his growth,” Randle said about Barrett. “You can pout and kind of sulk because you didn’t play in the game before. But everyone here is all-in on winning. And for him to come in and constantly make the right plays was big. So I’m super proud of him.”
Randle, who was named an All-Star reserve not long before tipoff, added 23 points and 10 rebounds, including a dunk with 5.2 seconds remaining.
The Heat are one of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference, recovering from a poor start to the season to climb into a playoff spot. Miami also beat the Knicks nine times in its last 11 matchups.
But not Thursday.
Brunson was a late scratch with a non-COVID illness, moving Immanuel Quickley into the starting lineup. It represented Brunson’s fourth missed game of the season, and the Knicks are now 2-2 without their starting point guard.
His DNP Thursday also pushed Evan Fournier back into the rotation, as the Frenchman logged 18 minutes and missed six of his seven shots. Quickley added eight points in 37 minutes.
Bam Adebayo, who was named an All-Star reserve alongside Randle, led the Heat with 32 points in 38 minutes.
The third quarter, like the end of the game, was a rollercoaster. The Knicks started with 11 straight points to take a commanding lead, the Heat followed with a 21-4 run, and the Knicks scored 11 of the final 14 points. In the end, the Knicks entered the final period with a five-point edge.
Coach Tom Thibodeau knew it would be a tough matchup and the Knicks squeaked by.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service