Miami Heat reach NBA Conference Finals starring Jimmy Butler again in 96-92 win to eliminate the Knicks – as Jalen Brunson’s 41 points can’t save New York this time
- The Miami Heat just defeated the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Friday night
- Jalen Brunson was back in shape, but it didn’t help the team anymore
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The Miami Heat knocked out the New York Knicks to advance to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night.
Jimmy Butler again starred for the No. 8 seed, while Jalen Brunson’s second landmark try of the week wasn’t enough to save the Knicks’ season.
Butler scored 24 points in the 96-92 victory at the FTX Arena as Miami won their semifinal series in six games.
He also collected eight rebounds as the Heat became only the second eighth seed to reach the Finals since 1984.
Miami’s Bam Adebayo recorded 23 points and nine rebounds and Max Strus scored 14 points.
Jimmy Butler was again crucial to the Miami Heat in their Game 6 victory over the Knicks
New York’s star player Jalen Brunson produced another monumental 41 points in a 96-92 loss
Kyle Lowry added 11 points and nine assists from the bench for the Heat, who became the first No. 8 to reach the conference finals since the Knicks did so in 1999.
Miami advances to the conference finals for the third time in four seasons, taking on the winner of the semifinal series between the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers and second-seeded Boston Celtics. That series is tied at three wins apiece, with Game 7 set for Sunday in Boston.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be played in Boston or Philadelphia on Wednesday.
The Heat took advantage of a 38-20 points lead in the paint to offset a dismal 25.9 percent shooting display from 3-point range (7 of 27).
Brunson’s impressive 41 points came from 14 of 22 shots from the floor, including 5 of 10 successes from 3-point range. It was the most points in a playoff game ever by a Knicks guard.
Julius Randle recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds and RJ Barrett and Josh Hart each had 11 points for the fifth-seeded Knicks.
Adebayo sank a jumper, Strus added a 3-pointer, and Butler converted a three-point play to lift Miami’s lead to 85–76 with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter.
New York went on a 14–7 run, capped when Brunson made a pair of free throws on a flagrant foul and Hart added a layup with 54.1 seconds left to play.
The surge brought the Knicks within 92–90, but Butler made a pair of free throws after Brunson’s precious turnovers and New York’s Quentin Grimes failed on a three-point attempt before Strus converted two at the foul line to seal the win.
Brunson blasted out of the blocks by scoring 15 quick runs and Randle capped New York’s 16-3 run to put his team ahead 31-17.
Adebayo completed a Miami flourish with an emphatic dunk, and Strus made a pair of free throws with 37.1 seconds left to give the Heat a 51–50 lead going into halftime.