Knicks overcome a 21 point deficit to stun the Heat

In a game that will be remembered for its fourth-quarter heroics, the Knicks staged an incredible comeback against their Heat rivals, clinching an 100-98 victory.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with an impressive 24 points, while Immanuel Quickley, coming off the bench, added a crucial 20 points, and RJ Barrett contributed 18 points.

The Knicks, showing resilience in the final quarter, overcame a substantial 21-point deficit. Each of the key players, Brunson, Quickley, and Barrett, stepped up when it mattered most, scoring a combined 8 points each in the fourth quarter. Barrett’s three-point play with just under two minutes left marked a pivotal moment, swinging the lead in favor of the Knicks at 97-96, their first lead since halftime.

The turning point came after the Knicks trailed 96-76 with less than four minutes remaining. The team orchestrated an impressive comeback, outscoring the Heat 29-11 in the final quarter.

“It’s pretty cool, I’m not going to lie. It’s a really good win.”

– Jalen Brunson

However, the Knicks faced challenges earlier in the game, going scoreless for the initial five minutes into the second half. This lapse allowed the Heat to build a commanding 83-62 lead with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

For the Heat, Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, and Bam Adebayo contributed a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Despite Butler’s attempt at a game-winner, narrowly missing before the buzzer, the Knicks’ stellar fourth-quarter performance secured a memorable comeback victory.

The Heat had dominated the early stages of the second half, launching a formidable 19-0 run and establishing a 69-51 lead, making it difficult to predict the real outcome of the match-up.

The game also counted for the In-Season Tournament where the Knicks are tied with the Heat for the second place with a 2-1 record, behind the Bucks, who are 3-0. The Knicks can win the group if they beat the Hornets on Tuesday and the Bucks will lose to the Heat.

Up-next: The Knicks (9-6) will host the Suns (10-6) on Sunday from 6:00 pm.