NBA Game 6 Preview: New York Knicks at Miami Heat

May 12, 2023

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Game: New York Knicks @ Miami Heat

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Odds: Knicks +5.5, Heat -5.5

Total: 208.5

In Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Friday night in Miami, the New York Knicks will attempt to stop the Heat from writing their name into NBA history once more.

With its back against the wall in Game 5, fifth-seeded New York fought back on Wednesday and won 112-103 to reduce its best-of-seven series deficit to 3-2. Miami was prevented from becoming just the second No. 8 seed to make it to the conference finals, and the first since the Knicks did it in the spring of 1999.

Tom Thibodeau, the head coach of New York, was quick to praise Jalen Brunson after the latter filled the Game 5 stat sheet. Brunson played the entire 48 minutes of the game on Wednesday night and finished with 38 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Brunson wasn’t the only Knick to play the entire game. Backcourt mate Quentin Grimes also played all 48 minutes and had eight points, five assists, and four rebounds.

Just two days prior to Game 5, New York’s Julius Randle publicly questioned whether the Heat “want it more” than the Knicks. Randle scored 24 points in the Knicks’ victory and RJ Barrett added 26 points. Randle also had five rebounds and five assists.

On Wednesday, Miami’s Jimmy Butler was limited to fewer than 25 points for the first time this postseason. Butler ended with team-high totals in points (19) and assists (nine), along with seven rebounds. He was also selected to the All-NBA second team on Wednesday.

In scoring his 17 points off the bench, Duncan Robinson made five three-pointers to highlight his performance. Bam Adebayo finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. But the Heat only made 13 of their final 43 attempts from beyond the arc. Miami shot 30.2 percent from long range and 42.1 percent overall. The Knicks shot 49.3 percent.

Miami is 4-0 SU at home in the postseason so far. The Heat would advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the third time in four seasons with a win tonight or a victory in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Miami is now 6-2 SU and 7-1 ATS in its last eight games. The Heat has also won its last six games at home and they are 5-0 ATS in their last five at home. Miami has beaten New York in nine of its last 11 games in South Beach.

Three of the five games in the series have gone Over the total. Miami, the lowest scoring team in the NBA this season and one of the league’s best defenses, has seen the Over cash in eight of its last ten games. For the season, the Heat’s O/U record is 48-45-1 and at home that mark stands at 26-21. The five games in this series so far have averaged 208.2 points per game.

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