Despite a strong offensive output from Goran Dragic, the Miami Heat struggled mightily down the stretch in an ugly loss to the New York Knicks.
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Goran Dragic was superb throughout, however, head-scratching blunders down the stretch (including one on Miami’s final possession) would prove fatal to the Miami Heat as they fell at home to the Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose-less New York Knicks last night.
Finishing with 22 points, five assists, and three rebounds, Dragic was the Heat’s lone standout on a night when nothing seemed to go Miami’s way.
Of the 33 shots attempted from beyond the arc, the Heat sank just eight of them, including missing 15 of their final 16 attempts from that distance. At one point in the fourth period, Miami had missed seven three pointers in a row, and Dragic’s lay-up with just seconds to go was no good as the Heat fell to a Knicks team it had just beaten only days prior at The Garden.
"”The three-ball didn’t go in tonight, we didn’t defend and it didn’t end up being a good formula for us,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, via the Associated Press."
From the start, Dragic was aggressive offensively and made sure his impact was felt. Finishing 8-of-17 from the floor, he was the key cog in a lackluster offensive effort from a Heat team who could have used a little more breathing room in what has become a heated race for the final two East playoff spots.
He also knocked down two of his five attempts from beyond the arc, accounting for 25 percent of Miami’s total three pointers.
While most will point to his missed lay-up with less than 10 seconds remaining (which, make no mistake, assisted in costing Miami the game), Dragic was one of the few reasons the Heat were even in the game at that point, with the Knicks thoroughly controlling the momentum throughout.
With Dragic on the floor, Miami was much more effective on the offensive end, averaging nearly eight points with him than without:
Points (Per 100 Possessions)
Dragic on court: 98.9
Dragic off court: 91.9
Field Goal Percentage (Per 100 Possessions)
On court: 41.7
Off court: 39.1
The Heat also turned the ball over much less when Dragic was in the lineup, averaging nearly five less:
Turnovers Committed (Per 100 Possessions)
On court: 12.9
Off court: 18.4
All that being said, with just six games remaining in the season and a playoff spot on the line, the Heat will need more from their leading scorer to avoid missing the postseason for the second time in three years.
Yes, Miami was much more effective with him in the lineup, but missing a bunny like that with the game (and to somewhat extent, season) on the line is not something you pay a player over $89 million for, and Dragic knows that.
Goran Dragic was visibly bothered in the locker room "that's a layup I normally make 10 out 10"
— Kup (@AKuperstein) April 1, 2017
Indeed, it usually is, and had the shot fallen, we very well may be having a completely different conversation today.
All-in-all, a stellar effort from Dragic, but in the end, the only thing that matters is a win or a loss, and the Heat were left with a big, fat “L” and a sour taste in their mouths.
”We’re still in the playoffs,” Dragic said following the loss. ”Every game counts.”
With less than a week’s worth of games remaining, it’s make or break time for the 2016-17 Heat. Either make the playoffs, or be left wondering what mediocre, middle-of-the-pack draft pick you’ll be stuck with.
Next: Heat have a playoff mindset
Miami (37-39) will remain in South Florida for a home match up with the explosive Denver Nuggets tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. ET.