Jalen Brunson powers Knicks past skidding Heat

Field Level Media|published: Sat 27th January, 17:57 2024

Jan 27, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) controls the ball as Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) and forward Jimmy Butler (22) defend during the first half at Madison Square Garden. credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Brunson poured in 32 points as the New York Knicks extended their winning streak to six games with a 125-109 victory over the visiting Miami Heat on Saturday.

Brunson scored nine of his points in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter to help New York open up a 112-96 lead that Miami couldn't overcome. He also dished out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds for the game.

Julius Randle added 19 points and nine boards for the Knicks, who also got 19 points from OG Anunoby.

Randle's night was cut short, though, as he exited the game with 4:27 remaining following a collision down low with Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. Randle was favoring his right shoulder/pectoral as he headed back to the locker room.

Jimmy Butler finished with 28 points and eight rebounds as the Heat dropped their sixth straight game. Duncan Robinson hit five 3-pointers and recorded 19 points, while Tyler Herro had 18 points.

New York outshot Miami 51.7 percent to 46.6 percent from the floor.

Brunson converted a three-point play and Randle sank a pair of free throws 35 seconds later as the Knicks built an 82-69 lead with 3:30 left in the third quarter.

Butler then took over, accounting for nine points during a 17-4 Heat run that tied things at 86 with 13.2 seconds on the clock. However, Randle capped the period with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, making it 89-86 heading into the fourth.

A Caleb Martin 3-pointer had Miami within 93-89 with 11:10 left in the game, but Brunson then got going, and the Heat saw the game slip away.

Butler scored 11 points to help Miami grab a 30-27 edge after 12 minutes of action.

After Jaquez opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer, New York rattled off nine straight points to go up 36-33 with 8:46 left.

Neither team led by more than three until Randle knocked down a trey with 4:01 remaining, giving the Knicks a 49-44 lead.

Haywood Highsmith answered with a triple of his own and Butler added a layup, but the Knicks scored 12 of the final 14 points of the first half to take a 61-51 advantage into the break.

Donte DiVincenzo had eight points during the half-closing outburst.

—Field Level Media

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