Heat back to the NBA's final four, top Knicks 96-92 for 4-2 series win
MIAMI (AP) Heat coach Erik Spoelstra walked into the postgame interview room, a cup of a celebratory beverage in his hand, took a seat and began explaining how difficult the journey has been for Heat.
The regular season was a struggle. They needed to survive the play-in. They were three minutes away from going home before the playoffs even started, needing a rally just to earn the right to play top-seeded Milwaukee.
All forgotten. They're in the NBA's final four - getting there as a No. 8 seed.
Jimmy Butler scored 24 points, Bam Adebayo added 23 and the Heat are headed back to the Eastern Conference finals after topping the New York Knicks 96-92 in Game 6 on Friday night.
“It is really frickin' hard to get to the Eastern Conference finals,” Spoelstra said.
Maybe for some franchises. Not for Miami. The Heat are headed there for the 10th time overall, the seventh time in the last 13 years and the third time in the past four seasons. They'll play Game 1 at either Boston or Philadelphia on Wednesday; those teams will decide their East semifinal series Sunday.
“It means we're one step closer to our goal,” Butler said.
Max Strus scored 14 points and Kyle Lowry had 11 points and nine assists for the Heat. They're the second No. 8 seed in NBA history to make the conference finals - joining the Knicks, who pulled it off in 1999.
Jalen Brunson was spectacular for New York, scoring 41 points on 14-for-22 shooting. But his teammates combined for only 51 points - Julius Randle had 15 and RJ Barrett 11 on 1-for-10 shooting. Josh Hart also had 11 points for the Knicks.
“Congratulations to the Heat, to the organization, to the coaching staff, Spo and Pat Riley and all their players,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They played tough in this series and hats off to them. But I'm proud of our guys. There's always disappointment in the end of the season and in the end, there'll be one team standing. ... Proud of the way this team worked all year.”
It was dicey at the end, but Miami survived. Gabe Vincent was called for a flagrant-1 against Brunson with just under a minute left, starting a run where the Knicks scored four points in 4.6 seconds.
Brunson made the free throws, Hart added a layup and a 92-86 lead was down to 92-90.
The Knicks got a stop at the other end, but never got a shot off on the next possession. Lowry knocked the ball away for a steal, Butler made two free throws with 14.4 seconds left and the countdown back to the conference finals was on.
“It was a battle,” Lowry said. “A Tom Thibodeau-coached team, they're always going to play hard. ... This was a grind and we found a way.”
The Heat had to dodge one dicey situation after another. The Knicks tied it once after halftime, about four minutes in, but missed 10 other field-goal attempts in the second half - along with two free throws - that would have pulled them into a tie or given them the lead.
“Just got to give them a lot of credit. They didn't play like an 8 seed - at all,” Brunson said. “They were unbelievable. The utmost respect for them and that organization. I liked the way we fought.”
Brunson had 22 points in the first half, tying his third-most before intermission in any game this season – and his most ever by halftime of a playoff game. He had 15 in the first quarter when the Knicks came out flying to grab early control.
New York led 14 in the opening quarter, and Miami never led by more than two in the first 24 minutes. But it was Miami with the lead at the half, going up 51-50 by the break in large part because it finally kept New York off the line.
The Knicks made 11 free throws in the first quarter - the most by any Heat opponent this season and tying the fourth-most against Miami in an opening period over the last decade. But they didn’t even get to the line in the final 15:16 of the half.
The score to that point: Knicks 29, Heat 17. The score over the rest of the half: Heat 34, Knicks 21. And the Knicks never had the lead again.
“We've got guys that just want it,” Lowry said.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Brunson and Quentin Grimes played all 48 minutes of Game 5, but that was quickly off the table in Game 6. Grimes sat for 6:41 of the opening half, Brunson for 2:44, though some of that was because he got his third foul with 37.6 seconds left. … Immanuel Quickley (sprained left ankle) missed his third consecutive game. … New York finished 53-40, its best record in a season since going 60-34 in 2012-13.
Heat: Victor Oladipo was at the game, on crutches and braced after surgery to repair his torn patellar tendon. … The Heat had three starters (Vincent, Strus and Butler) all shorter than the Miami Marlins’ starting pitcher a couple miles away - rookie Eury Perez, who made his big-league debut, is 6-foot-8. … Miami had 3-point tries as time expired in each of the first three quarters. They all missed.
CELEB WATCH
Among those at the game: Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel - even on a rookie minicamp weekend for his team – and Dallas (and former Knicks) guard Tim Hardaway Jr., whose father’s jersey is among those retired by the Heat.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Mitchell Robinson vs. Bam Adebayo (Jimmy Butler gains possession) | |||
11:38 | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | |||
11:35 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
11:28 | Julius Randle misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
11:26 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
11:19 | Jimmy Butler misses two point driving layup | |||
11:18 | Jimmy Butler offensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Mitchell Robinson blocks Jimmy Butler's two point tip layup | |||
11:17 | RJ Barrett defensive rebound | |||
11:15 | Kevin Love shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | |||
11:15 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 | |
11:15 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 | |
10:58 | Bam Adebayo misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:55 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
10:34 | Julius Randle misses three point jump shot | |||
10:30 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | +2 | Max Strus makes two point running dunk (Jimmy Butler assists) | 2-2 | |
10:14 | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | |||
10:11 | Kevin Love defensive rebound | |||
10:00 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving dunk (Gabe Vincent assists) | 2-4 | |
9:30 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 4-4 | |
9:23 | Jimmy Butler misses two point running layup | |||
9:20 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot | 7-4 | |
8:42 | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | |||
8:39 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Gabe Vincent shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | |||
8:32 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-4 | |
8:32 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-4 | |
8:20 | Mitchell Robinson shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
8:20 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-5 | |
8:20 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-6 | |
8:02 | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:00 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
7:51 | +2 | Gabe Vincent makes two point pullup jump shot | 9-8 | |
7:32 | Gabe Vincent shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | |||
7:32 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-8 | |
7:32 | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-8 | |
7:15 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point driving dunk | 11-10 | |
6:56 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 13-10 | |
6:51 | +2 | Max Strus makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kyle Lowry assists) | 13-12 | |
6:31 | Kyle Lowry shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | |||
6:31 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
6:31 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-12 | |
6:31 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-12 | |
6:11 | RJ Barrett shooting foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
6:11 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-13 | |
6:11 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-14 | |
5:46 | RJ Barrett misses three point jump shot | |||
5:43 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
5:38 | Kyle Lowry blocks RJ Barrett's two point driving layup | |||
5:37 | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Julius Randle blocks Max Strus's two point running layup | |||
5:29 | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | |||
5:29 | Kevin Love shooting foul (RJ Barrett draws the foul) | |||
5:29 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-14 | |
5:29 | +1 | RJ Barrett makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-14 | |
5:08 | Bam Adebayo misses two point turnaround bank jump shot | |||
5:05 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
4:59 | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot | 20-14 | |
4:52 | Jalen Brunson personal foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
4:39 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point bank hook shot (Kevin Love assists) | 20-16 | |
4:26 | +3 | Quentin Grimes makes three point jump shot (Julius Randle assists) | 23-16 | |
4:05 | Quentin Grimes personal foul (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
3:57 | Bam Adebayo misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
3:56 | Heat offensive rebound | |||
3:55 | RJ Barrett personal foul (Loose ball) (Jimmy Butler draws the foul) | |||
3:55 | Jimmy Butler misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:55 | Heat offensive rebound | |||
3:55 | +1 | Jimmy Butler makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-17 | |
3:43 | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point stepback jump shot | 26-17 | |
3:24 | Isaiah Hartenstein blocks Jimmy Butler's two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:20 | Julius Randle defensive rebound | |||
3:16 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point driving layup (Quentin Grimes assists) | 28-17 | |
3:16 | Caleb Martin shooting foul (Julius Randle draws the foul) | |||
3:16 | +1 | Julius Randle makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-17 | |
3:06 | Bam Adebayo misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:03 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
2:40 | +2 | Julius Randle makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 31-17 | |
2:40 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
2:32 | Josh Hart personal foul (Kyle Lowry draws the foul) | |||
2:32 | +1 | Kyle Lowry makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-18 | |
2:32 | +1 | Kyle Lowry makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-19 | |
2:16 | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | |||
2:13 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
2:02 | +3 | Kyle Lowry makes three point jump shot (Caleb Martin assists) | 31-22 | |
1:49 | Julius Randle turnover (bad pass) (Caleb Martin steals) | |||
1:43 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point running layup | 31-24 | |
1:37 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
1:21 | Quentin Grimes turnover (bad pass) (Kyle Lowry steals) | |||
1:16 | Kyle Lowry misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:13 | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | |||
1:07 | Julius Randle misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
1:04 | Cody Zeller defensive rebound | |||
1:01 | Kyle Lowry turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
0:34 | Julius Randle misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
0:33 | Knicks offensive rebound | |||
0:26 | Jalen Brunson misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:24 | Julius Randle offensive rebound | |||
0:18 | Quentin Grimes misses three point jump shot | |||
0:14 | Jimmy Butler defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Jimmy Butler misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:00 | Heat offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:37 | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot (Obi Toppin assists) | 34-24 | |
11:22 | Isaiah Hartenstein personal foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
11:14 | Duncan Robinson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
11:11 | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | |||
11:04 | Jalen Brunson offensive foul (Off the ball) (Gabe Vincent draws the foul) | |||
11:04 | Jalen Brunson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:47 | +3 | Duncan Robinson makes three point jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 34-27 | |
10:29 | Obi Toppin misses three point jump shot | |||
10:24 | Caleb Martin defensive rebound | |||
10:17 | Caleb Martin misses three point jump shot | |||
10:14 | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | |||
10:07 | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving layup | 36-27 | |
9:55 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving floating jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 36-29 | |
9:55 | Isaiah Hartenstein shooting foul (Bam Adebayo draws the foul) | |||
9:55 | +1 | Bam Adebayo makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 36-30 | |
9:42 | Josh Hart turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:25 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 36-32 | |
9:04 | RJ Barrett turnover (lost ball) (Duncan Robinson steals) | |||
8:55 | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | |||
8:52 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
8:43 | Bam Adebayo blocks Josh Hart's two point driving layup | |||
8:36 | Kyle Lowry defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point driving finger roll layup (Kyle Lowry assists) | 36-34 | |
8:26 | Josh Hart shooting foul (Caleb Martin draws the foul) | |||
8:26 | +1 | Caleb Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 36-35 | |
8:02 | RJ Barrett misses two point driving hook shot | |||
7:59 | Gabe Vincent defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Miles McBride blocks Bam Adebayo's two point running layup | |||
7:53 | Bam Adebayo offensive rebound | |||
7:51 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point putback dunk | 36-37 | |
7:48 | Knicks 60 second timeout | |||
7:42 | +2 | RJ Barrett makes two point pullup jump shot (Mitchell Robinson assists) | 38-37 | |
7:17 | Gabe Vincent misses three point jump shot | |||
7:15 | Obi Toppin defensive rebound | |||
6:59 | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 41-37 | |
6:39 | +2 | Bam Adebayo makes two point driving dunk (Kyle Lowry assists) | 41-39 | |
6:18 | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (RJ Barrett assists) | 44-39 | |
6:01 | +2 | Caleb Martin makes two point jump shot (Kyle Lowry assists) | 44-41 | |
5:39 | Mitchell Robinson misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | |||
5:36 | Bam Adebayo defensive rebound | |||
5:28 | Duncan Robinson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:26 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
5:21 | Obi Toppin misses three point jump shot | |||
5:20 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
4:53 | Caleb Martin misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
4:52 | Mitchell Robinson defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | RJ Barrett misses three point jump shot | |||
4:29 | Heat defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | RJ Barrett personal foul (Loose ball) (Gabe Vincent draws the foul) | |||
4:10 | +2 | Jimmy Butler makes two point jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 44-43 | |
3:45 | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 46-43 | |
3:37 | +2 | Max Strus makes two point driving reverse layup (Gabe Vincent assists) | 46-45 | |
3:21 | Jalen Brunson misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:19 | Cody Zeller defensive rebound | |||
2:56 | +2 | Gabe Vincent makes two point driving floating jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 46-47 | |
2:30 | Josh Hart misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
2:27 | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | |||
2:25 | Julius Randle turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
2:25 | Heat 60 second timeout | |||
2:13 | Jimmy Butler misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
2:10 | Josh Hart defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Julius Randle misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:56 |