The Miami Heat power rotation players failed tonight. The offense is on fire and is the #1 offense in the NBA. Also, the defense is getting torched by opposing offenses. Tonight, they scored 127 points against the Knicks. They gave up 136. Coach Erik Spoelstra said the following about tonight’s effort:
“We don’t like giving up 130 like we did the other night. That’s not a recipe for success for us. But you have to collectively do tough things to get a team down.”
Heat power guys fell apart in New York
The Heat are the #2 defense in the NBA behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game was in doubt with the Knicks leading by 4. By the time the game got below five minutes, the Knicks went on a 20-10 run and the game was over. The Heat do not have good power rotation players as per Ira Winderman, Heat beat writer, to compete with high-level teams like the Knicks.
Norman Powell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. paced the Heat with scoring (38 and 23 points.) Andrew Wiggins, Kel’el Ware and Pelle Larsson scored in double digits (15, 15 and 14.) Kel’el Ware got 10 rebounds. Nikola Jovic has had a rough time since his 29 point performance on Monday. He scored in single digits against Cleveland and also in tonight’s game.
Rematch on Monday at Kaseya
The Heat get a chance to get back against the Knicks. Different from the two game series with the Cavaliers, the Knicks and Heat are playing a “true home and home series.” Karl Anthony Towns continues to dominate the Heat scoring 39 in tonight’s game. Landry Shamet scored 36 and Jordan Clarkson scored 24.
Karl Anthony Towns shot 14 times from three-point range and made six. Mitchell Robinson got eight offensive rebounds. Both Towns and Clarkson got to the free-throw line several times (11 and 9.) The Heat have their work cut out for them on Monday.
Tonight’s game was a Group play game for the Emirates NBA Cup. The NBA Cup is boring. The Heat are tied for second in Group C. They have two pool play games remaining against the Bulls and the Bucks. The NBA has to “punch up” the NBA Cup with a page that explains how significant are the game.
