Heat Dominate Knicks, Grab 2-1 Series Lead
The Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks, 105-86, at Kaseya Center in Game 3 of Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday. The Heat now lead the series 2-1.
The Heat received a huge boost with the return of Jimmy Butler ahead of Game 3 of the series. As has been the case throughout the entire postseason run, Butler carried the Heat on offense and led the team to a massive win in front of a sellout crowd at Kaseya Center. The Heat enjoyed an excellent start to this game and quickly raced to a 29-21 lead in the first quarter, an advantage they’d bolster to 14 points after outscoring New York by a 29-23 score in the second 12 minutes of action. Miami didn’t step the foot off the gas in the second half. The Heat also won the third and fourth quarters, 29-26 and 18-16, to seal a massive 19-point win. To make things worse for the Knicks, Immanuel Quickley and Jalen Brunson showed complications in their ankles. In fact, Quickley was forced to leave the game altogether in the fourth quarter and didn’t return to action.
Jimmy Butler paced Miami to victory with 28 points, four rebounds and three assists. Max Strus delivered 19 points and three boards. Bam Adebayo registered a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Lowry impressed off the bench with 14 points, four assists and three rebounds. The Heat shot 38.9 percent from the field.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 20 points, and he also added eight assists with six rebounds across 38 minutes. Josh Hart recorded a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double. Julius Randle also had a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, but he shot 4-for-15 from the field. Immanuel Quickley had 12 points before departing the game in the fourth quarter with an injury. R.J. Barrett finished with 14 points. The Knicks shot just 34.1 percent from the field.
The Heat received a huge boost with the return of Jimmy Butler ahead of Game 3 of the series. As has been the case throughout the entire postseason run, Butler carried the Heat on offense and led the team to a massive win in front of a sellout crowd at Kaseya Center. The Heat enjoyed an excellent start to this game and quickly raced to a 29-21 lead in the first quarter, an advantage they’d bolster to 14 points after outscoring New York by a 29-23 score in the second 12 minutes of action. Miami didn’t step the foot off the gas in the second half. The Heat also won the third and fourth quarters, 29-26 and 18-16, to seal a massive 19-point win. To make things worse for the Knicks, Immanuel Quickley and Jalen Brunson showed complications in their ankles. In fact, Quickley was forced to leave the game altogether in the fourth quarter and didn’t return to action.
Jimmy Butler paced Miami to victory with 28 points, four rebounds and three assists. Max Strus delivered 19 points and three boards. Bam Adebayo registered a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Lowry impressed off the bench with 14 points, four assists and three rebounds. The Heat shot 38.9 percent from the field.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 20 points, and he also added eight assists with six rebounds across 38 minutes. Josh Hart recorded a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double. Julius Randle also had a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, but he shot 4-for-15 from the field. Immanuel Quickley had 12 points before departing the game in the fourth quarter with an injury. R.J. Barrett finished with 14 points. The Knicks shot just 34.1 percent from the field.
Lakers Dismantle Warriors In L.A.
By Dan Bruno
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors, 127-97, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead but the Warriors rallied back to claim a 30-23 advantage after one quarter. The hosts turned it up a notch and outscored the Warriors 36-18 in the quarter to claim an 11-point cushion at the break, and they kept up the pace in the third to make it an 18-point game heading into the final quarter. The Warriors had no answers down the stretch as the Lakers charged their way to the 30-point home win and 2-1 series lead.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals, in 33 minutes. LeBron James tallied 21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a block, while D'Angelo Russell totaled 21 points, three rebounds, five assists and a steal. The Lakers shot 52.5 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from long range.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal, in 32 minutes. Andrew Wiggins followed up with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block, while Klay Thompson added 15 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block. The Warriors shot 39.6 percent from the field, including 13-of-44 from deep.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in L.A.
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead but the Warriors rallied back to claim a 30-23 advantage after one quarter. The hosts turned it up a notch and outscored the Warriors 36-18 in the quarter to claim an 11-point cushion at the break, and they kept up the pace in the third to make it an 18-point game heading into the final quarter. The Warriors had no answers down the stretch as the Lakers charged their way to the 30-point home win and 2-1 series lead.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 25 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals, in 33 minutes. LeBron James tallied 21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and a block, while D'Angelo Russell totaled 21 points, three rebounds, five assists and a steal. The Lakers shot 52.5 percent from the field, including 15-of-31 from long range.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal, in 32 minutes. Andrew Wiggins followed up with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block, while Klay Thompson added 15 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block. The Warriors shot 39.6 percent from the field, including 13-of-44 from deep.
Game 4 is scheduled for Monday in L.A.