Jimmy Butler Leads the Heat to Victory Against Knicks despite Sprained Ankle: NBA East Semifinals Recap

Sports Writing (USA), Apr 30 (EFE).- Jimmy Butler once again led the Heat this Sunday and directed the victory against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (108-101) with 25 points in the first game of the NBA East semifinals, in which the Miami leader overcame a sprained right ankle suffered in the fourth period.

The Knicks, who finished fifth in the conference in the regular season, had eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers; while the Heat, eighth, unexpectedly ended the leaders of the West, the Milwaukee Bucks, thanks to Butler’s 37.6 points average in the series and his decisive baskets.

The Heat leader had a double double of 25 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals; while Gabe Vincent had 20 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. Kyle Lowry, coming off the bench, contributed 18 points, and Ben Adebayo, 16.

The picture of the game, however, was Butler’s severely twisted ankle with five minutes left in the fourth quarter after an unintentional collision with Josh Hart. He was left lying on the ground, but managed to stay on the track, although regardless of the actions of his team.

For the Knicks, RJ Barrett had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal; Jalen Brunson added 25 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal. Obi Toppin added 18 points and Josh Hart 10. Mitchell Robinson scored 7 points and recovered 14 balls and put on 2 hats.

The locals were especially unsuccessful in triples (7 of 34) and free throws (60 percent).

KNICKS CONTROL FIRST HALF

A tight defense from Miami, with more luck in attack in the first few minutes, kept the Heat ahead on the scoreboard for the first half of the opening quarter and Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau called his first timeout, which ensued. .

A spectacular dunk in “alley oop” by Robinson, assisted by Barrett, two free throws by Brunson and a foray by Hart, put the Knicks ahead for the first time in the game (16-15).

Three pointers from Barrett and Toppin gave the locals a 9-point lead one minute from the end of the set. After a Toppin dunk in “alley oop” assisted by Hart and another basket by German power forward Isaiah Hartenstein, the segment ended with an 11-point lead for the Knicks (32-21).

The Heat’s tight defense early in the game leaked everywhere in the second quarter, and the Knicks took advantage of every opening.

A dunk and a layup by Butler, a basket by Martin and three free throws and a desperate three-pointer from a corner by Vincent (with 14 points so far) managed to reduce the Knicks’ lead to 7 three and a half minutes before reach the break (47-40).

With 11 points from Butler and 14 from Vincent compared to 15 from Brunson and 13 from Barret, the luminous scored 55-50 at halftime.

BUTLER DRIVES THE HEAT

The second part of the game began with a frantic exchange of hits that ended in favor of the Heat who, including two triples by Max Strus, tied at 61.

Another basket from Strus, a triple from Love, a layup from Adebayo and two dunks and a tackle from Butler gave the Heat an 8-point lead shortly after the middle of the third quarter (66-74).

The Knicks reacted and cut the lead of the Heat to 2 (72-74) who, despite Brunson’s 21 points so far, reached the end of the third quarter 6 points up (75-81).

A dunk from Adebayo increased the Heat’s lead to 9 two minutes into the final quarter and Butler, from free throws, defended it seconds later.

A dunk from Robinson and another basket from Hart reduced the differential to 3 with just under 6 minutes remaining in the final quarter (90-93).

It was then that Butler was injured, who however refused to leave the track. He hit two free kicks and prevented the Knicks from taking positive momentum.

A triple by Vincent, a hook by Adebayo and a short shot by Lowry gave Miami a 10-point lead with 2.53 minutes to go (94-104).

The Knicks, missing free throws and triples, were unable to react and the Heat took the first victory of the West semifinal series (101-108).

Related