New York (44-30) at Miami (41-33)
When: Tuesday, April 2nd 2024
Where: Kaseya Center,
Miami, FL
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: League Pass
Opening Odds: Miami -3.5/207
With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the Miami Heat are aiming to get out of the Play-In scenario and into the postseason without having to go through an elimination game. The Heat will host the New York Knicks on Tuesday night in what will be the third and final meeting between the teams. New York has taken the first two – both at home – 100-98 in November and 125-109 on Jan. 27. The home team has won seven consecutive meetings and nine of the last 10. The Over/Under is an even 5-5 in those 10 matchups.
The Heat are currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings, one-half game behind the Indiana Pacers. The top six are guaranteed to play in the first round, while 7-10 have to duke it out for the final two spots. It won’t be easy, as Miami has games coming up against teams above .500 in New York (tonight), Philadelphia, Houston and Indiana. Miami has won two of three after a 119-107 road win at Washington on Sunday.
The Knicks are sitting in fourth place in the conference, a half-game behind Cleveland for the No. 3 seed. New York had won seven of eight before dropping their last two games to San Antonio and Oklahoma City by a total of five points. The Knicks’ frontcourt was limited against the Thunder, as Mitchell Robinson missed the game against after re-injuring the same ankle he had surgery on in December. He is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s contest in Miami.
NEW YORK KNICKS
Jalen Brunson did all he could in the last two New York defeats, scoring a combined 91 points on 36-of-72 shooting (50.0 percent). He poured in 61 points against the Spurs and 30 in the loss to the Thunder. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures, but it wasn’t enough in the one-point loss. Josh Hart played 45 minutes on Sunday and recorded 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists but did turn the ball over five times. The Knicks will host Sacramento on Thursday before heading out for a tough four-game road trip.
MIAMI HEAT
Jimmy Butler has been a Knicks killer over the last few years, including the postseason. In his last 10 games against New York, Butler is averaging 25.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. In the two games against the Knicks this season, Butler shot a combined 18 of 34 (52.9 percent) from the field. Bam Adebayo had a pair of double-doubles in the two meetings this season and had 22 points and 10 boards in Sunday’s win over Washington.
Prediction:
Miami has not been great this season against teams with a winning record. They have been beating up the bottom teams, but struggling against stiffer competition. New York qualifies as stiffer competition. The Knicks have lost two straight but it was by a combined five points and they had won seven of eight prior. I know the home team has won seven in a row in this series, but I’m still getting 2.5 points and I’ll take it.
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