The Miami Heat played their first game, post-All-Star break, on Friday night. While some of the league got things going on Thursday, the Heat would have to wait a day to start the second part of their year.
It was worth the wait too, as they took the show on the road to the World’s Most Famous Arena, The Mecca, Madison Square Garden. Getting right to it, the Miami Heat would start the game slowly, allowing the Knicks to get out to a 10-0 run before they would score a basket.
After they got on the board though, things started rolling. With the Knicks playing one of their best periods of the season and while things weren’t going great for the Heat, at all, they still finished the first period only down by two points, 30-32.
The Miami Heat would take control of the game in the second period, going on a 19-2 run before the Knicks would go over the 40 point mark, though the Knicks would be able to finish the half strong on the back of RJ Barrett.
The Miami Heat came into the Madison Square Garden on Friday for their first post-All-Star break game. They got a win, though RJ Barret went for 46.
Still down 10 at the half, 65-55, and though the Miami Heat would allow them to get closer than they should have as the game churned to a finish, the Miami Heat would eventually shut the door on the struggling Knicks squad. The story of the game was two-fold.
Tyler Herro had himself a game on national television, further cementing his NBA Sixth Man Of The Year candidacy on ESPN’s airwaves. That was all while RJ Barrett proceeded to put on an impressive scoring performance of his own.
Herro would finish with 25 points, seven rebounds, and two assists on 9-18 shooting from the field and 4-9 from range. Barrett would drop a career-high 46 points (30 in the first half), grab nine rebounds, and drop two dimes on 13-22 shooting from the field and 6-11 from deep.
All in all, the massive night still wasn’t enough to help his team get the win, in Barrett’s case. That’s all that really matters right now, right?
Indeed. The Miami Heat started the second portion of the season off right and jumped back over Chicago in the seedings in the process.
They’ll have the second part of a back-to-back set on Saturday, welcoming in the San Antonio Spurs to the FTX Arena. It’ll be another good chance for a win.