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The Miami Heat came into Madison Square Garden ready to take control of their second-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, and they did just that with a 108-101 victory in game 1. After dispatching the Milwaukee Bucks in just five games in the opening round, the Heat picked up where they left off by securing a crucial road win in New York.
Miami got off to a strong start, jumping out to an early lead in the opening minutes of the game. However, the Knicks roared back, seizing control of the game and taking an 11-point lead into halftime. Despite being without star player Julius Randle, who missed the game due to injury, the Knicks looked poised to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
But the Heat showed their determination and resiliency, coming out in the third quarter with a 13-2 run to regain the lead. From there, Miami never looked back, running away with the game despite the Knicks’ efforts to close the gap in the fourth quarter.
While the Heat will be pleased with the win, they will also be concerned about the status of Jimmy Butler. The All-Star forward rolled his ankle late in the game and was visibly hobbled for the remainder of the contest. With Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo already out for the foreseeable future, Miami cannot afford another injury to their roster.
Despite the late injury scare, Butler led the way for the Heat with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Gabe Vincent also had a strong performance with 20 points and 5 assists, while Kyle Lowry chipped in 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. For the Knicks, RJ Barrett had a team-high 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, followed by Jalen Brunson with 25 points and Obi Toppin with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
With the victory, the Heat take control of homecourt advantage in the series. They will have a few days to rest and evaluate Butler’s injury before game 2 on Tuesday night. The Knicks, meanwhile, will need to regroup and come up with a plan to slow down the Miami offense in order to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole in the series.
For more sports coverage from MLB, NBA, NFL, to NCAA contact Julian Ojeda at 786-501-9082 or via email julian@communitynewspapers.com
To stay tuned for more Sports Reports follow @jowepafm on Twitter
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