Knicks vs. Heat: How & Who To Watch In South Beach
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The New York Knicks have built some space between themselves and the Miami Heat, but a few extra games certainly can’t hurt.
Life’s been a beach for the New York Knicks in recent weeks.
An ongoing seven-game winning streak has established some breathing room between the Knicks and Miami Heat, a matchup that previously served as a battle atop the Eastern Conference’s Play-In Tournament standings prior to the All-Star break. New York has built 3.5 games of separation between themselves and the purgatory of the Play-In but would no doubt love to further distance themselves and keep their winning ways alive when they do battle with Miami on Friday night.
This will be the first of three meetings between the Knicks and Heat over the final stretch of the regular season. New York previously tipped off a fabulous February with a 106-104 win over the defending conference finalists, an effort headlined by 30 points from RJ Barrett. New York is 10-2 since that game, a streak headline by Jalen Brunson’s push toward Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for March.
What: New York Knicks (37-27) @ Miami Heat (33-30)
Where: Miami-Dade Arena, Miami, FL
When/Watch: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go
Who’s Favored: EVEN
Knick to Watch: RJ Barrett
Barrett’s teammates were able to mask his struggles, as the third-year homegrown franchise face was unable to keep the early momentum rolling. Over the last 10 games, Barrett is averaging 15.4 points per game and shooting less than 39 percent from the field. The aforementioned heroics against the Heat came shortly after Barrett was held of the latter portions of a Jan. 31 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Is another trip to the beach what his psyche needs to regroup?
South Floridian to Watch: Bam Adebayo
If this whole basketball thing doesn’t work out, the Knicks could perhaps enter the art business with the way they’re playing in the paint: Mitchell Robinson has earned four consecutive double-doubles in his first games from a finger injury while Isaiah Hartenstein has provided quality care off the bench. Adebayo has struggled since coming back from the All-Star festivities in Salt Lake City, pulling in just seven boards a game in the first four. With the Heat cooled by nagging injuries up and down the lineup, Adebayo will have to be ready for increased responsibility to help preserve victories.
Prediction
There’s a chance for the Knicks to reach 11 games over .500 on Friday night and build a lead on the Play-In group. So much of this season has centered on the Knicks taking care of business this year and it’s not unreasonable to expect them to do so against the reeling Heat.
Knicks 116, Heat 108
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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